I appreciated the article "Managing the Ups and Downs of Bipolar Disorder" (October 2006), which covered important information and treatments concisely and scientifically. But I didn't appreciate the subjective, Picasso-like representation of the "face" of bipolar disorder on the cover of the issue. Ironically, this illustration presents a nonscientific visual that attaches a stigma to the illness.

I'm sure that your intent was to show the emotion of the disorder and not to be derogatory, but we must treat illness-particularly mental illness-with the most subtle respect. Perhaps the "face" of any mental illness would best be represented by photographs of real people. Your face, my face-anyone's face would qualify. Those with bipolar disorder, more often than not, look just like us.

SANDRA BISHOP EBNER, RN

Figure. No caption available.

Litchfield, Conn.