Bipolar Disorder: More Common Than Expected?
Study: Bipolar, Related Disorders Cut Productivity More Than Depression Alone
June 17, 2005 -- A new study says that bipolar disorder, while still rare, may be more common than previously thought.
Face-to-face interviews with more than 9,200 U.S. adults showed that 4.3% had symptoms of bipolar disorder or related syndromes, say the researchers, who included Ronald Kessler, PhD, of Harvard Medical School.
Kessler's study also says that some people with major depressive disorder also have bipolar symptoms. Bipolar symptoms impair life more than major depression alone, says the study.
The findings were presented in Pittsburgh during the International Conference on Bipolar Disorders.
About Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder, formerly called manic depression, is a brain disorder. It causes unusual shifts in a person's mood, energy, and ability to function, says the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
Bipolar disorder is severe. It's not the same as the normal ups and downs of life. Bipolar disorder can have extreme effects, raising suicide risk.
Like other mental illnesses, bipolar disorder is treatable. However, it needs consistent attention. In that regard, it's like diabetes or heart disease -- long-term illnesses that take a lifetime of careful management, says the NIMH.
As with any other serious health condition, don't try to handle any mental illness alone. Seeking help is the first step toward a better life. Resources include doctors, psychiatrists, mental health professionals, social workers, and other trained counselors.
Parsing the Numbers
Kessler's figure is higher than the NIMH's estimate. The NIMH says that in any given year, about 1% of U.S. adults -- roughly 2 million people -- have bipolar disorder.
However, Kessler's number goes a bit beyond the strict definition of bipolar disorder. It also includes "sub-threshold" bipolar disorder, says a news release. People with that condition don't quite meet the bipolar diagnosis but are still severely impaired in their ability to lead a normal life.
Participants did not have to say they had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. They answered a battery of questions, which the researchers screened for symptoms. Interviews were not done with homeless people or those in institutions.
Bipolar Disorder, Depression Sometimes Overlap
Kessler's study says a "substantial proportion" of people with major depression also have bipolar symptoms, including a history of euphoria and irritability. Those people often reported irritability as a prominent feature of their depressive episodes, says the study.