The Bipolar Disorder Facts page

Here is a list of some facts. The results are formed from statistics collated in the UK.

A major disorder of mood

Is an imbalance in the brain's mood regulating system.

Duration of the illness

For most, it is a lifelong condition. Episodes of hypomania/mania and depression and remission.

Sub-syndromal symptoms, which convey an increased risk of relapse.

50% relapse rate in 1st year period. 70% relapse rate in 4th year period.

Prevalence

About 1% of the adult population has a bipolar disorder. 12% across a wider spectrum. It most commonly first appears in young people in their early 20s.

Gender

Men and women are equally likely to be affected.

Associations

Higher socio - economic status, creativity and productivity. Psychosocial impairment that extends to essentially all areas of functioning. Partners are better able to cope with behaviours associated with depressive episodes. 60% eventually divorce or separate from their partners.

Suicide

25-50% will make one attempt. 10-15% succeed. The risk is highest in the initial years of the illness.

Co-morbidity

60% drug or alcohol abuse at some point in their lifetime.

Family history can include:

Unipolar/bipolar illness, Thyroid problems(associated with maternal side), Post partum mood disorder(with psychosis), Suicide, Alcoholism, Colourful "odd" or eccentric family members.

Cause

It is most possible that several genes control mood changes as these are to fault. On average 1 in 12(8%) of the immediate relatives, of those with bipolar disorders, will have the same disorder. Some people with bipolar disorder will not have any relatives with bipolar disorder while others will have more.

Environmental factors

Stress and loss: Close confiding relationship

Childhood experiences: Sensitizing events

Seasonal factors - occurs in 1 in 4

Sunlight and melatonin: Mania in midsummer and autumn and depression in the winter months. Serotonin levels are lower in winter.

Changes in ionic atmosphere

Winds and mood altering effects (e.g. simoom dust storms form the Sahara)

Altering levels of ionization alters production or rate of transmission in nerve cells.

Others

Steroids, Bronco-dilators, L-Dopa, Thyroid, Multiple Sclerosis, Damage to mood control areas of the brain.

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© Mark Hannant
Published 2nd May 2001