Psychology-Suicide

Bipolar Disorder.html

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar and related disorders is an umbrella category in the DSM-5. Under this umbrella, individuals could be diagnosed with disorders such as bipolar I disorder, bipolar II disorder, and cyclothymic disorder. As noted in the last week’s lesson, a defining distinction between depression (i.e., unipolar disorder) and bipolar is the presence of manic episodes. Additionally, individuals with bipolar could also experience hypomanic or mixed mood episodes. The average age of onset for bipolar disorders is twenty-five, but it can also occur earlier. The lifetime prevalence for bipolar disorders in adults in the U.S. is estimated at 4%, which is nearly double the prevalence rate worldwide. Bipolar I disorder has equal prevalence rate in men and women, but bipolar II disorder is slightly more common in women. Bipolar disorders are more common in people who have biological relatives with mood disorders (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Mental Health, 2016).

Older people with bipolar disorders tend to have increased motor symptoms such as changes in how they walk and exhibit reflexes. However, they are frequently misdiagnosed with dementia. They are also more likely to have mixed mood episodes.

Bipolar I disorder equally affects men and women. The first episode for men, however, is more likely to be manic with subsequent episodes rotating between manic and major depressive. The first episode for women is more likely to be major depressive with subsequent episodes also more frequently being major depressive episodes. Women are more likely to have rapid cycling of episodes.

There is no evidence that there are any differences in prevalence for bipolar disorders based on race and ethnicity. However, people from some ethnic groups are more likely to be misdiagnosed with other disorders such as schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.

Reference:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Mental Health. (2016). Bipolar disorder. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/bipolar-disorder/index.shtml