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Iva23Mcginnis · 26 April 2011

26 April 2011

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Michael Douglas has told of how his wife Catherine Zeta-Jones's depression was ''outed'', pushing her to make her Bipolar II disorder public.

Michael Douglas has said that Catherine Zeta-Jones's depression was "outed".

The 41-year-old actress revealed earlier this month she was being treated for Bipolar II disorder - also known as manic depression - and her husband has told of how she decided to make it public because she feared someone else would.

He said: "Catherine's being quite open about it because she was outed.

"[She] went to get some help, and some other patient probably said, 'Hey, you won't believe who's in here now.' So, once that happens, I think she felt best to get out her story."

[She] went to get some help, and some other patient probably said, 'Hey, you won't believe who's in here now.' So, once that happens, I think she felt best to get out her story.

Catherine was treated for five days at the Silver Hill Hospital in New Canaan, Connecticut, after developing the mental illness due to the stress of Michael's recent battle with throat cancer.

He said during an appearance on the 'Oprah Winfrey Show': "After dealing with the stress of the past year, Catherine made the decision to check into a mental health facility for a brief stay."

He also hinted that the Welsh beauty found it hard to admit that she had the disorder to her husband because of other troubles in his life.

The 66-year-old actor added: "My son is in federal prison, my ex-wife is suing me... it's kind of hard for the wife to say that she's depressed."

Now her illness is known to the world Catherine hopes it will give other sufferers the strength to seek help.

She said in a statement: "If my revelation of having Bipolar II has encouraged one person to seek help, then it is worth it."