New vision on the mental problems of Vincent van Gogh; results from a bottom-up approach using (semi-)structured diagnostic interviews

Abstract

Background On July 29, 1890 at the age of 37 years, the Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh died from the consequences of a suicide attempt with a gun 2 days earlier. Since then many medical and psychological theories were suggested about what had happened to Van Gogh. Aim To present an overview of the history of the mental problems of Van Gogh and the most likely diagnoses. Method (Semi-)structured diagnostic interviews were applied to three art historians who are very familiar with Van Gogh from his correspondence and other sources as well as a neuropsychiatric examination to evaluate whether the symptoms might be explained by a medical condition. Results Several previously suggested diagnoses could be excluded as being highly unlikely, while other diagnoses could be classified as more of less likely. Conclusion Most likely Van Gogh suffered from comorbid illnesses. Since young adulthood, he likely developed a (probably bipolar) mood disorder in combination with (traits of) a borderline personality disorder as underlying vulnerability. This likely worsened through an alcohol use disorder combined with malnutrition, which then led, in combination with rising psychosocial tensions, to a crisis in which he cut off his ear. Thereafter, he likely developed two deliriums probably related to alcohol withdrawal, followed by a worsening with severe depressive episodes (of which at least one with psychotic features) from which he did not fully recover, finally leading to his suicide. As additional comorbidity, focal (temporal lobe) epilepsy cannot be excluded.

Vincent van Gogh’s ear and the sociocultural iconography of mental illness

“…While diagnostic proposals vary, there is general consensus that Van Gogh’s underlying psychopathology led to his act of self-harm (Blumer, 2002; Nolen et al, 2020). Researchers contend that Van Gogh had various comorbidities, including mood disorder and borderline personality disorder traits, which together with alcohol use and psychosocial stressors resulted in his self-harm (Nolen et al, 2020). Others suggest that a psychotic episode may have contributed to this (Blumer, 2002).…”

Perspectives on using a celebrity narrative to teach the psychiatric formulation to final year medical students

“… Post-Impressionist 18th Century Painters: A retrospective psychoanalysis of Vincent Van Gogh utilizing diverse sources and expertise (Nolen et al, 2020).…”

Empirically validated theoretical analysis of visual-spatial perception under change of nervous system arousal

“…It is also known (Fischer, 1967) that mood disorders, such as bipolar psychosis, produce, respectively, expansion and contraction of the spatial area of handwriting during the manic phase and the depressive phase. This cited investigation (Fischer, 1967;Nolen et al, 2020) has highlighted that the bipolar disorder of the artist Van Gogh can be well-mapped and analyzed in terms of the geometric alteration in his art and handwriting as time progressed. Indeed, our proposed aforesaid behavioral testing has considerable potential to be used as a ready economical biomarker to monitor the therapeutic effect of clinical interventions on bipolar or mood disorder patients.…”