Career and work
Ergenzinger earned a PhD in neuroscience and a JD from Wake Forest University before building a career in patent law. He has practiced for more than 20 years, working with individual inventors, start-ups, research universities, and major companies on intellectual-property matters. [3][2]
He is the founder and principal of Ergenzinger Intellectual Property Law and serves as an adjunct professor at Wake Forest University School of Law, where he teaches Mental Health and the Legal Profession. [3][2][4]
What has been publicly discussed
- Ergenzinger was diagnosed with Bipolar I disorder in early 2019 after a severe manic episode. He has said that he had previously been treated for depression and anxiety for about 20 years before receiving the bipolar diagnosis. [6][1]
- He has since written publicly about the diagnosis through Psychology Today, WebMD, and his own mental health advocacy work. [6][1]
- Ergenzinger has described experiencing manic episodes for much of his adult life without recognizing them as such. During his most severe episode, he slept as little as 15 minutes a night and experienced psychotic delusions, including grandiose and religious beliefs. [1][5]
- After that episode, he experienced a severe depression that left him unable to work. He has said that he became unemployed and uninsured, filed for bankruptcy, and received Social Security Disability benefits while trying to regain his health. [6][1]
- During his severe manic episode, Ergenzinger initially resisted treatment but eventually began taking the antipsychotic olanzapine. He has said that it quickly helped him sleep and reduced his grandiose thinking, hyper-religiosity, and other manic symptoms, although he experienced significant weight gain and muscle soreness. [5]
- Rather than stopping medication, he later tried other antipsychotics with fewer side effects. Ergenzinger has said that medication and therapy have helped him manage Bipolar I disorder and return to practicing law. [1][2]
- Ergenzinger has used his experience with Bipolar I disorder to advocate for better mental health support within the legal profession. He has also written about alternatives to traditional police responses to mental health crises, drawing in part on his own experiences during psychiatric crises. [2][8]
- He also serves on the board of BarCARES, a counseling and intervention program for lawyers, paralegals, and law students, and chairs the North Carolina Bar Association Intellectual Property Section’s Mental Health Committee. At Wake Forest Law, he developed and teaches Mental Health and the Legal Profession, a course intended to help law students recognize mental health difficulties and seek help without viewing them as career-ending. [2][4]
“I learned that understanding the brain does not protect you from mental illness.”
— Ed Ergenzinger [7]
Sources and other resourcesExpand to view the sources used in this profile and resources to learn more.
Sources used for this profile
The following sources contain information that supports the claims made on this page.
Ed Ergenzinger“About” First-person professional and mental-health biography covering his Bipolar I disorder diagnosis, history of treatment for depression and anxiety, severe mania and depression, disability, bankruptcy, recovery, and return to legal practice.
Wake Forest University School of Law“Edward Ergenzinger” Current faculty biography covering his patent-law career, adjunct teaching, Bipolar I disorder, period of unemployment and disability, return to practice, and mental-health advocacy roles.
Ergenzinger Intellectual Property Law“Ed Ergenzinger, JD, PhD” Professional biography covering his neuroscience and legal education, patent practice, teaching appointments, clients, speaking engagements, and current roles.
View all 8 sources
Wake Forest University School of Law“Practicing What They Teach” Profiles Ergenzinger’s work as an adjunct professor teaching Mental Health and the Legal Profession and includes his views on help-seeking and mental health within legal careers.
Psychology Today“Inside My Manic Mind: Delusions and Hyper-Religiosity” A detailed first-person account of Ergenzinger’s manic episode, psychosis, severe sleep loss, delusions, initial resistance to treatment, and response to medication.
Psychology TodayEd Ergenzinger author profile Summarizes his experience of Bipolar I disorder, severe mania and depression, unemployment, bankruptcy, Social Security Disability, and later return to legal practice.
Psychology Today“Beyond Self-Care: Workplace Approaches to Mental Health” A first-person essay in which Ergenzinger reflects on bipolar disorder, psychiatric hospitalization, disability, returning to law, and structural approaches to workplace mental health.
Psychology Today“Rethinking Emergency Response to Mental Health Crises” A first-person article in which Ergenzinger discusses his experiences during psychiatric crises and alternatives to traditional police responses.
Learn more
Recommended books and other resources about Ed Ergenzinger and their experiences.
- “Faith, God, and Dopamine”WebMD
A first-person essay in which Ergenzinger describes religious and grandiose beliefs during his most severe manic episode and reflects on bipolar disorder, mania, and spirituality.
- “Breaking the Silence on Mental Health in Technology Transfer”AUTM on the Air
A podcast discussion featuring Ergenzinger on mental health in high-pressure professions, workplace stigma, leadership, and lessons from his own experience.
- “BarCARES Leadership on Lawyer Well-Being: Ed Ergenzinger”North Carolina Bar Association
A Q&A in which Ergenzinger discusses lawyer well-being, asking for help, his experience working while unwell, and the importance of not confusing high functioning with good mental health.