Rumors about Amanda Bynes mental health dispelled
Amanda Bynes has not been diagnosed with schizophrenia despite rumors to the contrary. The former teen star wanted to clear the air regarding her hospitalization…
Amanda Bynes was admitted into a mental health center last year for irrational behavior. (AP photo)
Amanda Bynes has not been diagnosed with schizophrenia despite rumors to the contrary. The former teen star wanted to clear the air regarding her hospitalization last summer and has allowed her attorney to speak on her behalf.
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Last July Bynes was placed on involuntary psychiatric hold after she started a fire on a neighbors driveway. At that time, sources close to the actress told the media schizophrenia was likely to blame for the stars recent bouts of irrational behavior. A lack of response by Bynes to those rumors only strengthened suspicions; however, her lawyer Tamar Arminak told People Bynes secrecy was because she felt it was in her best interests at the time.
“There has been much speculation about Amanda’s medical condition, Arminak said. She has remained silent because she believed it was best to keep her mental health diagnosis private. However, she asked me to dispel certain rumours. For the record, Amanda does not have schizophrenia, nor has she ever been diagnosed with it.”
Arminak added that Amanda Bynes is currently is on zero medication, and has “devoted to living her life as healthy as possible. She’s never had a history of abusing alcohol or hard drugs, and she’s proud to say she’s been marijuana-free for the past nine months.
In addition to having repaired the relationships with her parents, Amanda is also reportedly still undergoing intense therapy sessions to get to the root of her behavior a few months ago that landed her in a Ventura County, California mental treatment center.
The attorney did not address rumors regarding Bynes and possible bipolar disorder, another mental illness hinted at when she went into treatment last year.
Amanda Bynes. (Shutterstock)
Could bipolar disorder cause irrational behavior?
Until Amanda Bynes herself indicates which mental illness–if any–she has been diagnosed with the reason for her placement in treatment will remain unknown. It is possible, however, that bipolar disorder is still a realistic suspicion for the actress.
According to researchers, untreated bipolar disorder, though usually characterized by extreme high and low moods can manifest as aggression.
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“[Smyptoms] can vary and change, Dr. Arun Patel, a Lubbock psychiatrist, said in a statement. The intensity can be different from one person to another. Sometimes, when people are high, it can last for hours, days, a week or two. Theres a lot of energy. It can make a person act aggressively or irrationally, Patel said. “That definitely will happen.
Patel added that bipolar disorder could happen to anyone and is often found in very bright people with above-average IQs. Amanda Bynes also fits the average age range for patients with this condition, which experts indicate is between 20 and 30 years of age.
