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Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a disease that involves mood changes and disorders. It is a psychiatric disability that causes major disruptions in lifestyle and health.
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The National Bipolar Foundation works toward reducing the stigma of bipolar disorder through:
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Most people start showing signs of bipolar disorder in their late teens (the average age of onset is 21 years). These signs may be dismissed as "growing pains" or normal teenage behavior.
On occasion, some people have their first symptoms during childhood, but the condition can often be misdiagnosed at this age and improperly labeled as a behavioral problem or a condition such as ADHD or depression. Bipolar disorder may not be properly diagnosed until the sufferer is 25-40 years old, at which time the pattern of symptoms may become clearer.
- Severe depression can be life-threatening. It may be associated with thoughts of suicide, actual acts of suicide, and, in some cases, even acts of homicide.
- Extreme mania can lead to aggressive behavior, potentially dangerous risk-taking behaviors, and homicidal acts.
- A number of people living with bipolar disorder have been known to turn to drugs and alcohol in order to "self-treat" their emotional disorder, resulting in substance abuse and dependence.
- Bipolar disorder occurs in both men and women. About 5.7 million people in the United States have the disorder. There is no racial group that is more afflicted by this disease. Bipolar disorder knows no bounds. It affects all races and all ages. It does not care who you are, what you do or where you live.
Because of the extreme and risky behavior that occasionally occurs with bipolar disorder, it is very important that the disorder be properly identified. With proper and early diagnosis, bipolar disorder can be treated. Bipolar disorder is a long-term illness that will require proper management for the duration of a person's life.
*Source: National Bipolar Foundation
The health information on this website is for general background purposes and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific conditions. Seek prompt medical attention for healthcare questions you have. Consult your physician before making changes to your medication, diet, or fitness program.
Facts & Figures
» According to the World Health Organization, bipolar disorder is the sixth leading cause of disability in the world.
» As many as one in five patients with bipolar disorder completes suicide.
» Bipolar disorder affects approximately 5.7 million adult Americans, or about 2.6% of the U.S. population age 18 and older every year.
» The median age of onset for bipolar disorder is 25 years, although the illness can start in early childhood or as late as the 40's and 50's.
» An equal number of men and women develop bipolar illness and it is found in all ages, races, ethnic groups and social classes.
» More than two-thirds of people with bipolar disorder have at least one close relative with the illness or with unipolar major depression, indicating that the disease has a heritable component.
