By Pat Hagan

Neil Tinning ended up in intensive care

Neil Tinning is lucky. It took doctors just six years to accurately identify the mental illness from which he was suffering.

According to some experts, the average is eight.

But what kind of serious psychiatric complaint can go undetected for so long?

Bipolar disorder is the modern clinical term for manic depression and affects up to one in 50 people in the UK.

It's called bipolar because the symptoms swing from deep clinical depression to episodes of extreme mania, where sufferers are gripped by an uncontrollable energy and euphoria.

Yet many patients only seek medical treatment during the depressive stages of the illness.

GPs, unaware the patient before them also suffers bouts of mania, simply prescribe anti-depressants that do not control the symptoms of the disorder.

As a result, the condition gradually gets worse and many victims only receive an accurate diagnosis after being admitted to a psychiatric unit for treatment.

Inaccurate diagnosis

I took one month's worth of anti-depressants and ended up intensive care. Neil Tinning

In Neil's case, doctors decided back in 1991 that he was suffering with clinical depression.

But it was 1997 before medics finally realised he really had bipolar disorder.

He said: "I think I've had bipolar disorder most of my life.

"But the crunch came in 1995 when I had a breakdown and attempted suicide.

"I was in a job where my bosses increased my targets by 54% and I just could not take that type of stress.

"So I took one month's worth of anti-depressants and ended up intensive care."

Hendrix's grave

During the height of a manic episode, 43-year-old Neil - formerly the official photographer for the seventies band The Jam - has been known to jet off half-way round the world at a moment's notice to see the grave of legendary rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix in Seattle.

On another occasion, he became convinced he was a messiah figure and pleaded with a local rabbi to teach him Hebrew.

By the time they see a psychiatrist, many are quite paranoid and irritable and can get mistaken as schizophrenics. Professor Mary Phillips

But achieving stability somewhere between the highs of mania and the lows of depression is one of the hardest tasks facing doctors who treat bipolar disorder, said Professor Mary Phillips, from the Institute of Psychiatry in London.

"It takes on average about eight years for most people to be diagnosed," she said.

"When they are high, the last thing they want to do is see a GP.

"Very often GPs don't ask depressed patients if they get 'highs' as well as lows.

"So they prescribe anti-depressants, the patient feels a bit better and stops taking the drugs and then gets ill again.

"By the time they see a psychiatrist, many are quite paranoid and irritable and can get mistaken as schizophrenics."

Suicide risk

This delay in diagnosis is particularly tragic because at least one in four bipolar disorder sufferers attempt suicide. Some estimates are as high as 50%.

Yet the condition, although incurable, can be managed effectively with the right drug regime.

This usually includes anti-depressants to treat stop the "lows", anti-psychotics to halt the manic "highs" and a mood stabilising drug - often lithium - to keep patients on a even keel.

"The problem is some sufferers can have what are called 'mixed episodes'," says Professor Phillips.

"This is where someone can be on a high but suddenly get very tearful and down and develop suicidal ideas."

Professor Phillips said doctors and the public are gradually becoming more aware of the symptoms of bipolar disorder.

But there is still room for improvement.

"One of the most important things is to take a clear medical history in patients with depression," she said.

Neil is no longer able to work but has succeeded the late comedian Spike Milligan as patron of the Manic Depression Fellowship Society.

He said: "Bipolar disorder is as serious as cancer but is not perceived publicly as that.

"I am trying to break down the barriers surrounding mental illness and tackle this Victorian attitude that it's just 'nerves'."