Prevalence and Incidence of Bipolar disorder

Contents

Prevalance of Bipolar disorder:

1.2 percent of the population; 2.3 million adult Americans (NIMH) ... see also overview of Bipolar disorder.

Prevalance Rate:

approx 1 in 83 or 1.20% or 3.3 million people in USA [Source statistic for calcuation: "1.2 percent of the population; 2.3 million adult Americans (NIMH)" -- see also general information about data sources]

Ophanet, who are a consortium of European partners, currently defines a condition rare when if affects 1 person per 2,000. They list Bipolar disorder as a "rare disease". More information about Bipolar disorder is available from Orphanet

Bipolar disorder Prevalence: Book Excerpts

Prevalance of Bipolar disorder:

It affects approximately 2.3 million adult Americans—about 1.2 percent of the population. (Source: excerpt from Going to Extremes Bipolar Disorder: NIMH) ... More than 2 million American adults,¹ or about 1 percent of the population age 18 and older in any given year,² have bipolar disorder. (Source: excerpt from Bipolar Disorder: NIMH)

Prevelance of Bipolar disorder discussion:

Bipolar Disorder Research at the National Institute of Mental Health: NIMH (Excerpt)

In this study, one percent of adolescents ages 14 to18 were found to have met criteria for bipolar disorder or cyclothymia in their lifetime. (31) In addition, close to six percent of adolescents in the study had experienced a distinct period of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood even though they never met full criteria for bipolar disorder or cyclothymia. Compared to adolescents with a history of major depressive disorder and to a never-mentally-ill group, both the teens with bipolar disorder and those with subclinical symptoms had greater functional impairment and higher rates of co-occurring illnesses (especially anxiety and disruptive behavior disorders), suicide attempts, and mental health services utilization. The study highlights the need for improved recognition, treatment, and prevention of even the milder and subclinical cases of bipolar disorder in adolescence. (Source: excerpt from Bipolar Disorder Research at the National Institute of Mental Health: NIMH)

The Numbers Count: NIMH (Excerpt)

Bipolar disorder affects approximately 2.3 million American adults, ⁵ or about 1.2 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year. ¹ (Source: excerpt from The Numbers Count: NIMH)

Prevelance statistics for Bipolar disorder:

The following statistics relate to the prevalence of Bipolar disorder:

1.7% adults in the US (USSG: US Surgeon General)
Average length of hospital stay was 20.4 days in Canada 1999 (Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control, Health Canada)
25 per 100,000 population hospitalized for bipolar disorder in Canada 1999 (Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control, Health Canada)
20 men per 100,000 population hospitalized for bipolar disorder in Canada 1999 (Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control, Health Canada)
30 women per 100,000 population hospitalized for bipolar disorder in Canada 1999 (Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control, Health Canada)
more statistics...»

More Statistics about Bipolar disorder:

Hospitalization statistics

All statistics for Bipolar disorder

Medical news summaries about incidence of Bipolar disorder:

The following medical news items are relevant to the incidence of Bipolar disorder:

Prevalence/Incidence of Bipolar disorder: Online Medical Books

16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE! Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration, for more information about the prevalence and/or incidence of Bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorders: Causes and incidence
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

The cause of bipolar disorder is unclear, but hereditary, biological, and psychological factors may play a part. For example, the incidence of bipolar disorder among relatives of affected patients is higher than in the general population and highest among maternal relatives. The closer the relationship, the greater the susceptibility. Children with one affected parent have a 25% chance of developing bipolar disorder; children with two affected parents, a 50% chance. The incidence of this illness in siblings is 20% to 25%; in identical twins, the incidence is 66% to 96%.

Although certain biochemical changes accompany mood swings, it isn’t clear whether these changes cause the mood swings or result from them. In mania and depression, intracellular sodium concentration increases during illness and returns to normal with recovery.

Patients with mood disorders have a defect in the way the brain handles certain neurotransmitters — chemical messengers that shuttle nerve impulses between neurons. Low levels of the chemicals dopamine and norepinephrine, for example, have been linked to depression, whereas excessively high levels of these chemicals are associated with mania.

Changes in the concentration of acetylcholine and serotonin may also play a role. Although neurobiologists have yet to prove that these chemical shifts cause bipolar disorder, it’s widely assumed that most antidepressant medications work by modifying these neurotransmitter systems.

New data suggest that changes in the circadian rhythms that control hormone secretion, body temperature, and appetite may contribute to the development of bipolar disorder.

Emotional or physical trauma, such as bereavement, disruption of an important relationship, or a serious accidental injury, may precede the onset of bipolar disorder; however, bipolar disorder commonly appears without identifiable predisposing factors.

Manic episodes may follow a stressful event, but they’re also associated with antidepressant therapy and childbirth. Major depressive episodes may be precipitated by chronic physical illness, psychoactive drug dependence, psychosocial stressors, and childbirth. Other familial influences, especially the early loss of a parent, parental depression, incest, or abuse, may predispose a person to depressive illness. (See Cyclothymic disorder.)

The American Psychiatric Association estimates that 0.4% to 1.2% of adults experience bipolar disorder. This disorder affects women and men equally and is more common in higher socioeconomic groups. It can begin any time after adolescence, but onset usually occurs between ages 20 and 35; about 35% of patients experience onset between ages 35 and 60. Before the onset of overt symptoms, many patients with bipolar disorder have an energetic and outgoing personality with a history of wide mood swings.

Bipolar disorder recurs in 80% of patients; as they grow older, the episodes recur more frequently and last longer. This illness is associated with a significant mortality; 20% of patients commit suicide, many just as the depression lifts.

ELDER TIP The older adult at highest risk for suicide is at least age 85, is depressed, has high self-esteem, and needs to control his own life. Even a frail nursing home resident with these characteristics may have the strength to kill himself.

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Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005

Major depression: Causes and incidence
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

The multiple causes of depression aren’t completely understood. Current research suggests possible genetic, familial, biochemical, physical, psychological, and social causes. Psychological causes (the focus of many nursing interventions) may include feelings of helplessness and vulnerability, anger, hopelessness and pessimism, and low self-esteem. They may be related to abnormal character and behavior patterns and troubled personal relationships. In many cases, the history identifies a specific personal loss or severe stressor that probably interacts with the person’s predisposition to provoke major depression.

Depression may be secondary to a specific medical condition — for example, metabolic disturbances, such as hypoxia and hypercalcemia; endocrine disorders, such as diabetes and Cushing’s syndrome; neurologic diseases, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases; cancer (especially of the pancreas); viral and bacterial infections, such as influenza and pneumonia; cardiovascular disorders, such as heart failure; pulmonary disorders, such as chronic obstructive lung disease; musculoskeletal disorders, such as degenerative arthritis; GI disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome; genitourinary problems, such as incontinence; collagen vascular diseases, such as lupus; and anemias.

Drugs prescribed for medical and psychiatric conditions as well as many commonly abused substances can also cause depression. Examples include antihypertensives, psychotropics, opioid and nonopioid analgesics, antiparkinsonian drugs, numerous cardiovascular medications, oral antidiabetics, antimicrobials, steroids, chemotherapeutic agents, cimetidine, and alcohol. Depression occurs in up to 18 million Americans, affecting all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups. It affects both sexes, but is more common in women.

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Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005

About prevalence and incidence statistics:

The term 'prevalence' of Bipolar disorder usually refers to the estimated population of people who are managing Bipolar disorder at any given time. The term 'incidence' of Bipolar disorder refers to the annual diagnosis rate, or the number of new cases of Bipolar disorder diagnosed each year. Hence, these two statistics types can differ: a short-lived disease like flu can have high annual incidence but low prevalence, but a life-long disease like diabetes has a low annual incidence but high prevalence. For more information see about prevalence and incidence statistics.