Finding Sanity: John Cade, Lithium and the Taming of Bipolar Disorder

by Greg de Moore, Ann Westmore

In 1948, there was no medication for bipolar illness. Sufferers from the illness would live their lives—if they survived—in and out of asylums accumulating life's wreckage around them. But late in 1948 that changed, when an Australian doctor, John Cade, discovered a treatment that has become the gold standard for bipolar illness—lithium. John Cade changed the course of medicine with his discovery of lithium; yet today most doctors have never heard of his name. His discovery has stopped more people from committing suicide than a thousand help lines, yet few counselors know of him. And it has saved hundreds of billions of dollars in health care costs—enough to rival a nation's economy—but you can bet that no politician has the slightest idea of who John Cade was. Lithium is the penicillin story of mental health; the first effective medication discovered for the treatment of a mental illness; and a great story in the history of mental health.

Genres: Biography, Medical, Psychology, Psychiatry, Audiobook, Nonfiction, History

336 pages, Paperback

Published April 1, 2017

Reviews

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of John Cade, M.D. (1912 – 1980) an Australian physician who in 1948 discovered the treatment for manic-depression, now called bipolar disorder. The authors tell Cade’s story from being a prisoner of war during WWII. Cade was a Major in the Australian Army Medical Corp and was captured at the fall of Singapore. He was in Changi Prison from February 1942 to September 1945. After the war, Cade took a position at the Bundooroe Repatriation Mental Hospital in Melbourne. It was there he began his research for a treatment and discovered that the mineral Lithium Carbonate could act as a mood stabilizer.

The book is well written and researched. It is written in an easy to read style. The book is almost eleven hours long. The authors provided descriptions of life in the late 1940s and 1950s in Australia as well as what it was like for Cade’s wife and children living on the grounds of a mental hospital. This book came about from information in Ann Westmore’s Ph.D. thesis on the history of mental health in Australia.

I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is about eleven hours long. Paul English does a good job narrating the book. English is an actor and audiobook narrator.

[Vin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a book! John Cade, the first doctor to use lithium as a treatment for manic depression. Growing up in asylum grounds may have had on John's attitudes to and acceptance of people with mental illness. There is a discussion of the debate around the role of lithium after its discovery and the importance of other researchers in developing the knowledge on the application of lithium (e g correct dosage) beyond John's initial discovery. A high point in the book was the story of Bill Brand, the first patient treated with lithium. How hard life must have been for John’s wife Jean? And then there is the life they led in Catholic Melbourne. It is fascinating to read John's experience of WW2 in Changi and the authors’ speculation as to how this motivated his work in the years following. I wonder if someone will make a movie or a mini-series of this.

[Justine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I usually avoid biographies as I have found them typically dry and impersonal in comparison to autobiographies. However Greg De Moore and Ann Westmore have written an inspiring tale of the late John Cade which has changed my view. The book is a glowing portrait yet realistic about his flaws. The narrative paints a beautiful picture of a life well lived. The steady plot is complimented by detailed descriptions of the settings and events which took place. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys life stories or has an interest in the field of psychology.

[Amy Herbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

An approachable and interesting biography of the Australian man who discovered the usefulness of lithium for the treatment of bipolar disorder. This intimate and illuminating work gives us a peek into the mind and life of a wonderful and not widely known Aussie doctor who changed medical history.

[Wendy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Elements of this was interesting and if this had been 50 pages of biography rather than 300 it would have been considerably better. The writing wasn’t great and the speculations of the authors on what might have happened or what dr cade might have been thinking was really tedious.

[Jack Magner · Rating 3 out of 5]

A summary of John Cade’s life, from birth, his time in the war, discovery of lithium (though it’s a 20 year journey until international acceptance), and finishing with his death. There were definitely some interesting parts, with a lot of what felt like filler. Parts that were other people vaguely associated with John who would give a quote about the scenario. And oh wow, the authors could not fault a single thing that he did in his life. If he was stern and stubborn, he “remained fast in what he believed”, and it got a little old. But good bit of history that takes place in Melbourne so when they name-drop suburbs, I can be like “I‘ve been there!”

[Lisa Collis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative reading. A reminder we have come along way in some respects in regards to care and treatment for mental health disorders but we still have a long way to go in relation to providing decent services to vulnerable individuals.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating! A remarkable life.

[Kathryn Rough · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story about a kind and intelligent man.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A detailed biography of John Cade, the man who developed the use of lithium for those people dealing with Bipolar Disorder. A very clear picture of this man emerges from the writing. I particularly enjoyed the descriptions of the interactions of his young sons with the inpatients, no stigma just plain enjoyment on both sides. I have Bipolar, and found this story quite interesting. Thank you John Cade for ensuring I have a good quality of mental health.

[Reno · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting story of a true blue Aussie and his discovery of a medication that is still in use over half a century later.