Inspired by the feature film produced, written, and directed by Chicago filmmaker Joseph Strickland, The Making of Dual Mania: Filmmaking Chicago Style is a boldly personal account of what it takes to create, produce, and direct an independent feature film in current times. The nonfiction narrative takes the reader through the sometimes hilarious, frustrating, and bewildering film production process with the fiercely creative Strickland, along with co-authors B.J. Patterson and Cat Ellington, witnessing a fiery account of his own firsthand experiences through the menacing highs and lows of independent filmmaking in Chicago. With a fascinating foreword by Cat Ellington, The Making of Dual Mania: Filmmaking Chicago Style also features in-depth interviews with the filmmakers, detailed storyboards, behind-the-scenes photos, and the original motion picture screenplay.

Composed by Cat Ellington and Joseph Strickland and produced by Princeton Brown and Greg Schutte, Vital Vision Film Music presents Dual Mania (Music from the Original Soundtrack Album) Piano/Guitar/Chords - Sheet Music Book, a compilation introducing the scores of the songs from the soundtrack to the award-winning motion picture “Dual Mania.” This publication contains color photos from the film and original song synopses from the Cat Ellington Song Catalog. The songs featured include "I Do" (Cat Ellington and Princeton Brown), "The Book of Us" (Cat Ellington and Princeton Brown), "I'm Still in Love" (Cat Ellington and Princeton Brown), "Something in Your Eyes" (Cat Ellington and Princeton Brown), and "Gett Out" (Cat Ellington, Joseph Strickland, Princeton Brown, and Greg Schutte).

Bipolar disorder, or manic depression, is characterised by episodes of pathological mood states. The two poles are mania (with a predominant elated or irritable mood) and depression (with feelings of sadness, anxiety, guilt or hopelessness) but mixed states frequently occur. Episodes can last for many months and profoundly affect physical health, relationships and careers. Since diagnosis and management are difficult, this practical guide provides an overview of the disorder and detailed guidelines for treating the illness throughout its stages, from authors internationally renowned for their work in bipolar disorder. Also discussed are disease theories, mechanisms and key clinical trials, as well as chapters devoted to psychosocial treatments, substance misuse and insights from 'lived experience'. In-depth analyses of selected population groups, including youth, the elderly and women, complement guidelines for clinical approaches in managing bipolar disorder. Comprehensive and detailed, this guide will prove invaluable to clinicians, general practitioners, psychiatrists and psychologists.

‘Our greatest blessings come to us by way of mania, provided it is given us by divine gift,’ – says Socrates in Plato’s Phaedrus. Certain forms of alteration of consciousness, considered to be inspired by supernatural forces, were actively sought in ancient Greece. Divine mania comprises a fascinating array of diverse experiences: numerous initiates underwent some kind of alteration of consciousness during mystery rites; sacred officials and inquirers attained revelations in major oracular centres; possession states were actively sought; finally, some thinkers, such as Pythagoras and Socrates, probably practiced manipulation of consciousness. These experiences, which could be voluntary or involuntary, intense or mild, were interpreted as an invasive divine power within one’s mind, or illumination granted by a super-human being. Greece was unique in its attitude to alteration of consciousness. From the perspective of individual and public freedom, the prominent position of the divine mania in Greek society reflects its acceptance of the inborn human proclivity to experience alteration of consciousness, interpreted in positive terms as god-sent. These mental states were treated with cautious respect, and in contrast to the majority of complex societies, ancient and modern, were never suppressed or pushed to the cultural and social periphery.

This issue of Psychiatric Clinics, guest edited by Drs. Alan C. Swann and Gabriele Sani, is entitled Mixed Affective States: Beyond Current Boundaries. This issue is one of four each year selected by our series consulting editor, Dr. Harsh Trivedi of Sheppard Pratt Health System. Topics in this issue include: Clinical pictures of mixed states and its relation to temperament and personality; Psychopathology of mixed states; Unipolar agitated depression; Mixed features in mood disorders: the unmet needs of DSM-5; Trauma and mixed states; Suicidal acts and ideations in mixed states; Mixed states in early onset-bipolar disorder; Mixed states during the different phases of the reproductive cycle in women; Mixed states in patients with substance and behavioral addictions; Neurobiology of mixed states; Behavioral sensitization as a mechanism underlying and integrating mixed states; Pharmacological treatments of mixed states; ECT treatment of mixed states; and Innovative treatments including neuromodulation and psychotherapy.

From its first depictions in ancient medical literature to contemporary depictions in brain imaging, mania has been largely associated with its Greek roots, "to rage." Prior to the nineteenth century, "mania" was used interchangeably with "madness." Although its meanings shifted over time, the word remained layered with the type of madness first-century writers described: rage, fury, frenzy. Even now, the mental illness we know as bipolar disorder describes conditions of extreme irritability, inflated grandiosity, and excessive impulsivity. Spanning several centuries, Manic Minds traces the multiple ways in which the word "mania" has been used by popular, medical, and academic writers. It reveals why the rhetorical history of the word is key to appreciating descriptions and meanings of the "manic" episode." Lisa M. Hermsen examines the way medical professionals analyzed the manic condition during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and offers the first in-depth analysis of contemporary manic autobiographies: bipolar figures who have written from within the illness itself.

Painted in a rich hue of ultraviolet blue, Reviews by Cat Ellington: The Complete Anthology, Vol. 5 continues the journey through the analytical world of literary criticism with the next collection of engrossing examinations that either ooh, aah, or grimace their way through the vast realm of literary fiction. In the fifth installment of the original series, Cat Ellington presents her trademarked style of interpretative criticism in a diverse set of fictional compositions, including The Breakdown by B.A. Paris, A-List by D.P. Lyle, The Other Girl by Erica Spindler, A Penny For Her Heart by Alretha Thomas, The Fountain of Youth by Steve Shear, The Doll by J.C. Martin, Grand Theft Octo by Niels Saunders, The Girlfriend by Michelle Frances, Killjoy by LeVar Ravel, To Hell in a Handbasket by Willow Rose, Revelation and Retribution by AK Pittman, Blackout: The Life and Sordid Times of Bobby Travis by Edgar Swamp, Tradur Gurl by P.T. Dawkins, and many more. Joined by contributing authors Naras Kimono, a young writer who adds to this effort with her adorable analyses of Beanbag by Janice Marriott, Planet Earth by Ella Fern, and Bible Heroes: Joshua by Jason Parish; and filmmaker Joseph Strickland, who supplies this dialogue with his apprising reviews of Hard Candy by Andrew Vachss and Conversations with Scorsese by Richard Schickel, Cat Ellington continues to stay true to the hue of her punctilious review. So settle down, why don’t you, and prepare to lose yourself in the analytical creativity of its wondrously original, ever admired, undiluted, pleasantly fun-filled, and incredibly thought-provoking authorship. Reviews by Cat Ellington. A unique critique.