Thesis: Dostoevsky's manic and depressive episodes aided in his ability to properly illustrate the workings of the human mind, through his writing.

II. What is Manic Depression and Depression?

III. Other Writers with Mental Illnesses

Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky, author of several acclaimed books-including "Notes From Underground"-a semi-autobiographical story, introduced a new form of writing, "stream-of-consciousness", to Russia and Europe. Soon, this form of writing that would become the mark of the Existentialist, spread to the America's. Interestingly enough, the "stream-of-consciousness" that manifested itself in his writing was actually the product of a mood disorder, which can be characterized by intensely emotional thoughts. Caught in a rift of contrasting thoughts, the Manic-Depressive-commonly endowed with superior artistic abilities, can be very insightful to the ways of man.

Wasiolek, Edward. Dostoevsky: The Major Fiction. Cambridge: The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Press, 1964

The manual describes depressive episodes as: "The essential feature is either a dysphoric mood, usually depression, or loss of interest or pleasure in most usual activities and pass-times. This disturbance is prominent, relatively persistent, and associated with other symptoms of the depressive syndrome." These symptoms include appetite disturbance, change in weight, sleep disturbance, psychomotor agitation or retardation, decreased energy, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, difficulty concentrating or thinking, and thoughts of death or suicide, or suicidal attempts.

Though it is difficult to prove Manic-Depressive disorder among those who have passed away, the occurrence of this behavior and has been traced through letters written to friends and family, and personal accounts. Creative people, such as Keats, Woolf, and Dostoevsky, have been named among those who had this illness. Keats's notes and letters were evidence of his violent mood swings; his surgery lecture notes, embellished with many impromptu sketches in the margins were evidence of his wide-ranging interests, and also of his mercurial nature. Woolf became violent and delusional in her manic episodes, and when she was in a depressive state, she barely spoke or ate, and attempted suicide.

Murry, J. Middleton. Fyodor Dostoevsky: A Critical Study. London, 1916

Ostow, Mortimer, M.D.. The Psychology of the Melancholy. New York, Evanston, and London: Harper & Row, Publishers, 1970

"The essential feature is a distinct period when the predominant mood is either elevated, expansive or irritable, and when there are associated symptoms of the manic syndrome." These symptoms include hyperactivity, pressure of speech, flight of ideas, inflated self-esteem, decreased need for sleep, distractibility, and excessive involvement in activities that have a high potential for painful consequences, which are not recognized.

Lord, Robert. Dostoevsky: Essays and Perspectives. Berkley and Los Angeles: University Press, 1970

Some common words found in the essay are:
Notes Underground, Manic Depressive, Woolf Dostoevsky, Military Engineers, Manic Depression, America's Interestingly, Underground Dostoevsky, Major Depressive, Thesis Dostoevsky's, Notes Underground-a, depressive episodes, manic depressive, manic depressive episodes, notes underground, manic-depressive disorder, syndrome symptoms include, associated symptoms, syndrome symptoms, symptoms include, dostoevsky's life, beyond forty, episodes essential feature, depressive episodes essential, siberian prison,
Approximate Word count = 1574
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)