Is it a fact he was diagnosed with these conditions? Forgive me but I don't think I've seen it anywhere I could be wrong though. Yes then taking a potent form of THC could be detrimental but he would be aware of that beforehand though.
No. We do not have access to his medical records and no direct comments that I am aware of (on approved sources) to positively affirm that he had a mental illness that he or his family was aware of, other than the mostly accepted theory that he suicided. I do see many indicators behaviorally, much of that coming from his mother and what we know of his history and actions.
This diagnosis would need to be made by a psychiatrist and is assessed behaviorally rather than through some medical test for it. The field is just not that advanced yet. There are markers on identified chromosomes that are genetic and can indicate a predisposition, that may or may not advance to the illness. We do not fully know why some with the predisposition go on to develop the illness and others do not but pointers are towards life events & stressors and basic personalities enhancing vulnerabilities.
I am very doubtful that JJ ever consulted a psychiatrist. 1) his age. untreated, this is a progressive illness. Patients usually only present due to depression symptoms. People tend to think they are having "life problems" not a psychiatric illness. 2) the religious beliefs and framework of his family & their beliefs about him. 3) People tend to try to hide problematic symptoms, ride it out and seek other solutions. There is still much stigma and disinformation. 4) Self medicating is more common than not.
In the US, psychiatrists utilize the DSM. If 5 of 9 of the conditions/symptoms are present, a diagnosis is made, after a thorough history is taken along with trained clinical observations. Because patients are prone to only present when depressed, unfortunately initial dxs may be made of major depressive disorder, with or without anxiety disorders.
Not long ago, it was found that it often took 15!! years to reach the correct dx of bipolar disorder. There are 3 kinds/classifications of bipolar. In all of them, the primary re-0ccurring mood is depression. The distinctions between the 3 are the determination of hypomania and/or mania. Full blown mania is a quick trip to wrecking your whole life! It commonly results in hospitalization. And disability.
What I see in JJ is hypomania. these are shorter in duration than depression, often 2-4 weeks but reoccur. It feels great, top of the world! Who goes to a dr to say I feel so damned good and everything is going to work out stellar!? It is experienced as happiness and success with greater creativity and spawns big plans. There is some carelessness and risk taking but generally not over the top. There are elements of minor delusions/disordered thoughts, not too concerning unless it progresses to mania. And the relief from depression is keenly felt. The patient thinks they have turned the corner on depression and their life.
Medication compliance is poor. Understandably, people do not like to have the hypomania medicated out of existence! But then the depression is unmitigated. I was chatting with a psychiatrist one time and he told me that his professor had told him that people would eat dirt if they thought it would make them feel better. In real life this often translates to alcohol and other "recreational" drugs, such as cannabis.
For a number of years, Frederick Goodwin (UK) and Kay Redfield Jamison were the top researchers in this field and authored the textbook(s) used in medical and psychiatric training. In their latest revision (that I know of), they put tremendous warnings of the very high potential of suicidality accompanying manic depression.
For quite a long while I followed individual cases on a huge forum out of the UK. I had to stop and walk away. I could not deal with the vast number of people, some being the same person year in and year out, with the constant refrain that they just wanted to die.
I do not have the fortitude to be a clinician. I have been asked to be a support person in a day group. I declined.
My mental health analysis is based on years of studies, reading and personal cases but I would always advise to get professional specialized medical help. To adhere to medications with known efficacy.
I still feel confident that JJ was suffering from manic depression from what I know of the illness and what has been revealed about him. It is devastating that it culminated in suicide, I only wish it were unusual and that sufferers sought preventative care.
ETA: I so very much wish we could see the FBI's BAU profile!!!!!
