According to the researchers, after he cut off his left ear, Van Gogh probably went through an alcohol withdrawal delirium twice. This is a psychosis caused by suddenly stopping drinking alcohol.
Extensive investigation
The research, which was coordinated by professor emeritus of psychiatry Willem Nolen, was published in the International Journal of Bipolar Disorders. Never before has such extensive psychiatric research into Van Gogh been done, the UMCG states in a press release.
Van Gogh died on July 29, 1890 as a result of the suicide attempt he had made two days earlier. Since then, many different theories have been put forward about the illnesses he suffered from. The UMCG researchers interviewed three art historians who know him well from his correspondence (902 letters, 820 of which to his brother Theo) and from information from the doctors who treated him.
Combination of disorders
According to the researchers, Van Gogh was struggling with a combination of several psychiatric disorders, or comorbidity. None of these disorders can be stated with absolute certainty. The researchers do, however, label a number of frequently proposed theories as probable.
In his letters, Van Gogh mentioned several symptoms associated with bipolar mood disorder, in combination with a personality disorder, probably borderline.
These disorders were exacerbated by alcohol addiction in combination with malnutrition. When Van Gogh also got into an argument with his friend and fellow painter Paul Gauguin, he cut off his ear in December 1888.
Short-term psychoses
The UMCG researchers put forward the new theory that afterwards Van Gogh went through short-term psychosis twice, probably alcohol withdrawal delays, because as a result of the hospitalization after the ear incident he had to suddenly stop drinking alcohol.
After this his condition worsened further and he went through some severe depressive episodes, at least one of which with psychotic features. In the end, Van Gogh was unable to recover, which probably led to his suicide in July 1890.
The researchers also debunk several other diagnoses that have been previously suggested. They find it very unlikely that Van Gogh suffered from schizophrenia and they rule out that Van Gogh was suffering from the metabolic disease porphyria or gas poisoning (due to carbon monoxide from lamps). According to the researchers, it cannot be ruled out that Van Gogh suffered from epilepsy.
Battle for the arm
They also keep a close eye on the other diseases. “We think we can rule out some of the previously suggested diagnoses with certainty and we are more or less sure about various diseases he suffered from, but we will never know for sure,” said study leader Nolen.
‘We were not able to interview the patient ourselves, which means that every conclusion must be made with caution. And although Van Gogh’s letters contain a lot of information, we should not forget that he did not write them for his doctors, but to his brother Theo and other relatives and acquaintances to inform them, to reassure them, or to get together. It may therefore be that he was weakening or adding to certain things. ‘
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