Between 2 and 4 per cent of the world’s adult population is affected by bipolar disorder. This represents 222 million adults worldwide. Bipolar disorder is most likely to appear in teenagers or young adults. However, it can also appear when you are a child or later on in life.
It is a chronic disorder, which means it can keep coming back. About 90% of patients will have multiple recurrences over the longer term with an average of nine episodes per lifetime.
Men and women are affected by bipolar disorder in equal numbers. However, there are some differences in how it affects them.
Women with bipolar disorder may have more depressive episodes than men with bipolar disorder. Men are more likely to start with a manic episode, whereas a women’s first episode is usually a depressive episode.
Women are more likely to have “rapid cycling”, which is when you have four or more severe mood episodes per year.
Bipolar disorder also seems to run in families. About 2/3 of people with bipolar disorder have a close relative who also has the disorder, or who suffers from severe depression.
Bipolar disorder is the 6th leading cause of disability worldwide.
(Source: Patient Health International 2006)
