Vincent van Gogh developed psychosis after cutting off his left ear and having to withdraw from drinking. This is the conclusion of researchers at the UMCG in Groningen. The painter is said to have experienced a so-called alcohol withdrawal delirium twice, after he had to abruptly stop drinking alcohol because of his hospitalization.
The Groningen researchers conducted a psychiatric investigation into the painter, who committed suicide in July 1890. For this they interviewed art historians who know the painter well from his letters and writes information from the doctors who treated him RTV North.
The study shows that the painter includes The Starry Night in The potato eaters had several psychiatric disorders. In his letters, Van Gogh repeatedly mentioned symptoms associated with bipolar mood disorder, in combination with a personality disorder, probably borderline.
Withdrawal symptoms
These disorders were exacerbated by his alcohol addiction and malnutrition. When Van Gogh also got into an argument with fellow painter Paul Gauguin, he cut off his ear in December 1888. The new theory of the UMCG researchers is that he experienced brief psychosis twice due to withdrawal symptoms from the drink.
His condition worsened further and Van Gogh went through some severe depressive episodes, certainly one with psychotic features. In the end, he was unable to recover, which likely led to his suicide.
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