This is the first in a series of webinars exploring the bipolar symptoms that no-one talks about.

In this webinar, Dr Clare Dolman examines a symptom which many people with bipolar have to cope with when they're high: hypersexual behaviour. Joined by Anne Chataigné, who's made a film about her experiences, they discuss the link between hypersexual behaviour and bipolar, the emotions it can trigger and its longer term consequences.

Watch the webinar here

About the speakers

Dr Clare Dolman

Clare Dolman is a journalist and researcher whose PhD focused on women with bipolar disorder’s decision-making regarding pregnancy and childbirth. She is a Patient and Public Involvement Lead for the NIHR-funded ESMI project on the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of perinatal mental health services, based part-time at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King’s College London. She also lectures on the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ training courses on service user perspectives. Clare, who has a diagnosis of bipolar, is a trustee of the MMHA: Maternal Mental Health Alliance and of the charity APP - Action on Postpartum Psychosis, as well as an ambassador for Bipolar UK.

Anne Chataigné

Anne Chataigné co-wrote the BFI Doc Society-funded short documentary film ‘Trust Me’, of which she is the protagonist. Blending animation and live-action recreations, she uses humour and compassion to reclaim the story of her bipolar diagnosis in her early 20s and uses the film to challenge everyday stigma and pave her journey towards self-acceptance. Anne has lived in London for the last 13 years. When she is not making documentaries with her friends, she works as an urbanist, adapting the UK to flood risk.

Interested in these webinars? Save the date for other topics in the series

• 'Bipolar and Paranoid Behaviour' webinar with psychiatrist and researcher Dr Sameer Jauhar and Ivan Kennes who lives with bipolar: Wednesday 28 June 2023, 12 -1pm.
• 'Bipolar and Sleep' webinar with sleep expert Emeritus Professor Kevin Morgan and Luyando Malawo, who lives with bipolar: Wednesday 20 September, 1-2pm. 
  
• 'Bipolar and Overspending' webinar with Dr Thomas Richardson and April Kelley who lives with bipolar: Wednesday 8 November, 6-7pm. 

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Hypersexual Behaviour Survey - is now closed

The results will be published soon.

Thank you very much to all of you who completed the survey. We had an amazing 1692 respondents. If you would like to keep up to date with all the latest news from Bipolar UK including surveys, events and webinars, please sign up to receive our free eNewsletter

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Are you living with bipolar? Can you help us with an important and much-neglected area of research by taking our survey about past and present experiences of ‘hypersexual behaviour’ (unusual or excessive concern with or participation in sexual activity) in people with bipolar. This is sometimes also called ‘hypersexuality’.

This survey is for people aged 18 or over who are living with bipolar. If you don’t have bipolar or you're not currently in the process of getting a diagnosis, then please do not complete this survey.

TRIGGER WARNING: This survey includes sensitive questions about your experiences of hypersexual behaviour and bipolar. 

The survey takes about 20 minutes to complete so grab a cup of tea or coffee and take your time with the responses.

All data collected will be anonymised – no individuals will be identified.

By completing the survey you agree to let your anonymised data be used in the study and for associated research and publications. You may withdraw from filling in the survey at any time without having to provide an explanation and without consequences.

Please feel free to skip any questions you do not wish to answer.

The findings will be used to advocate for better understanding, treatment and care for people who live with bipolar.

If you need details of crisis services please see our website

If you need urgent care please call 999.

For non-urgent support please use our peer support services or call NHS 111.

Last updated: 26 May 2023