The 'magic button question' for those with a mood disorder--would they wish to re-live their condition?

To determine any positive aspects of living with a clinical mood disorder, and indirectly address the question--"If you could live your life again, would you press the 'magic button' to experience life without a mood disorder?"

Patients referred to a tertiary mood disorder facility were asked to complete a series of questionnaires pursuing detailed historical information about their mood disorder, including its 'best' and 'worst' aspects.

Of the 884 patients surveyed, 335 (38%) returned data on their mood disorder's advantages and/or disadvantages. Of these, 62.2% of the bipolar and 22.4% of the unipolar patients stated that having their condition had advantages, with the most commonly nominated consequences being increased empathy and self-awareness, enhanced relationships, a heightened appreciation of life and increased creativity.

The qualitative design disallows any inferences as to the exact cause of benefits described in this study, so that we cannot conclude that the patients perceived these benefits as attributable to depression or bipolar disorder alone.

While some respondents may well have focussed on transient benefits associated with bipolar 'highs', analyses indicated that a distinct sub-set of both unipolar and bipolar patients experienced some benefits, arguing for introducing the principles of positive psychology into management of wellbeing plans. In essence, while mood disorders are--by definition--disabling, they may also have enabling consequences.