Elie Cheniaux

“ Family history of suicide is among the risk factors for suicide, [10] and, as mentioned, the aviator’s mother had also taken her own life.
ASD, like all inventors, had a high creative capacity. There seems to be a relationship between bipolar disorder and creativity. In the study of the biographies of great artists, descriptions of what appear to be depressive and manic episodes, as well as suicides, are often found. When modern diagnostic criteria are applied in interviews with living artists, high rates of bipolar disorder are detected. ”

“ Discussing the psychiatric diagnosis of Alberto Santos-Dumont, considered in Brazil to be the inventor of the airplane, who was admitted to psychiatric institutions several times and committed suicide. Methods: A narrative review was carried out on the psychopathological manifestations he presented, based on some of the most important biographies about the aviator. No scientific article on the topic was found. Results: Depressive episodes were well characterized. Behavioral changes that suggest manic episodes have also been reported. Conclusion: He probably suffered from bipolar disorder. ”

“ In Paris, in 1898, at the age of 24, ASD builds his first balloon, to which he gives the name of Brazil. That same year, he began to create airships, which were hydrogen balloons attached to an engine. In October 1901, with his airship number 6, he won the Deutsch prize, fulfilling the requirement to fly the balloon for eleven kilometers, get around the Eiffel tower and return to the starting point in thirty minutes. [5] In 1903, he built the number 9 airship, called Baladeuse, considered the first aerial car in the world. ASD uses it daily to visit friends, go to restaurants and shop. ”

“ In the evaluation of individuals with bipolar disorder, high levels of creativity are observed, higher than in those with other mental disorders. Finally, there are many similarities between creative behavior and manic or hypomanic states, which include increased activity, self-confidence, impulsiveness, excitement and accelerated thinking. [17]
CONCLUSIONS
In the biographies about ASD, very typical depressive episodes were described. In addition, reports of increased mood and increased energy indicate that he also had manic symptoms. ”

“ In the 1920s, during a hospitalization, he tries to fly with feathers glued to his arms and with mechanical wings attached to an engine that is inside a backpack hanging on his back. When he goes to jump out the window, he is saved by a nurse. ”

“ However, these were the only two symptoms of multiple sclerosis that ASD would have presented, which, in addition, are nonspecific. On the other hand, this neurological disease is associated with high rates of comorbidity with mental disorders: for example, 23.7% have depression; and 5.83%, bipolar disorder. [15]
ASD’s mental illness had a tragic outcome: he killed himself at 59. Among mental disorders, bipolar disorder is the one that is most associated with suicide, especially during depressive and mixed episodes. ”

“ A reader of Jules Verne, from a young age ASD was fascinated by science fiction and believed that one day man could fly. At the age of ten, he made paper balloons, which he filled with hot air from the stove. ”

“ Disabled for work, he sells his farm and donates his inheritance to his children in life. ASD receives the equivalent of half a million dollars and is sent to Paris, where he should study mechanics, without worrying about guaranteeing his own livelihood. ”

“ Surely, he presented the two mandatory changes according to DSM-5: elevation of mood and increase in motor activity. In addition, other symptoms listed in the classification were described: grandiosity, pressure to speak, agitation and excessive involvement in potentially dangerous activities.
Regarding the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, it can be said that it is quite doubtful. [9] In this autoimmune inflammatory disease of the central nervous system, [13] in fact, double vision and vertigo may occur. ”