Disease overview - Bipolar disorder

Publisher： CSF Medical Communications Ltd

ISSN： 1745-1981

Source： Drugs In Context, Vol.1, Iss.2, 2005-02, pp. : 45-56

Disclaimer: Any content in publications that violate the sovereignty, the constitution or regulations of the PRC is not accepted or approved by CNPIEC.

Previous Menu Next

Abstract

Bipolar disorder is a serious, recurrent psychiatric illness characterised by episodes of mania and depression. The two major types of bipolar disorder (type I and type II), differ in severity and in the duration of symptoms, and have a combined prevalence of approximately 1–2%, and impose an annual cost to the UK economy of about £2 billion. Other classifications of bipolar disorder include mixed episodes of mania and depression or rapid cycling between mania and depression. Bipolar disorder is a leading worldwide cause of disability, and is associated with a high risk of suicide. Other psychiatric disorders such as anxiety and substance abuse are also frequently comorbid with bipolar disorder. Misdiagnosis is common because of the variable presentation of bipolar disorder. For example, if depressive episodes are the first symptoms manifested, patients are often mistakenly diagnosed with unipolar depression. Treatment of such patients with antidepressants, particularly in the absence of a mood stabiliser can precipitate manic episodes. Moreover, in more chronic cases treatment with antidepressants alone may result in the development of the more serious and difficult-to-treat, rapid-cycling disorder. Thus, it is vitally important that physicians working in primary care recognise potential cases of bipolar disorder and use short screening questionnaires if bipolar disorder is suspected.