The Starz hit Outlander has taken some creative liberties with its source material, and season six introduced a compelling twist not found in Diana Gabaldon’s books.

In the latest instalment of the beloved historical drama, Claire Fraser, portrayed by Caitríona Balfe, turns to ether inhalation as a means to cope with her PTSD following a traumatic abduction and gang-rape at Fraser’s Ridge, from which Jamie (Sam Heughan) saved her.

The season opens with Claire self-medicating using an improvised oxygen mask to inhale the potent substance to aid her sleep, reports the Scottish Daily Express.

Despite Claire’s attempts to reassure her loved ones of her wellbeing, it was evident she was battling internal demons.

Commenting on this narrative shift, author and series consultant Gabaldon admitted: “Book Claire probably wouldn’t have done that.”

Speaking to The Dipp, the American novelist elaborated on “multiple reasons” for this, citing “not-inconsiderable physical risks” and the threat of “addiction”.

However, it seems Gabaldon granted the showrunners her approval to explore this different path for Claire’s character on screen.

She remarked: “It’s not at all unknown for physicians to abuse it”, drawing a parallel to John Irving’s renowned novel The Cider House Rules.

Gabaldon acknowledged that the plotline was executed “pretty well within the framework they’ve developed”, concluding that “It works out slowly over the course of the whole season.”

Outlander’s producer Maril Davis has shed light on the rationale behind Claire’s ether addiction storyline, highlighting that the close proximity of events between season five’s end and season six’s beginning meant that Claire’s horrific sexual assault remained “fresh and raw” for her.

Davis added: “It felt like … we’d be doing Claire a great disservice if we did not address it in some fashion.”

The idea of Claire using ether to self-medicate was conceived by Davis, who, in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, discussed the “addictive quality to numbing the pain” that appealed to the 20th-century doctor character.

As the season progressed, Claire’s dependency on ether intensified until Jamie stepped in and talked to her, which ultimately helped her overcome her addiction.

In the original book series, Claire manages to heal from her traumatic experience with the support and understanding of Jamie.

Outlander season 7 is available to buy now on Digital and is streaming on MGM+ via Prime Video now