Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder, commonly known as manic depression, is a complex mental illness characterised by debilitating mood swings from mania to depression, interspersed with periods of normal mood and relative stability.
It is a lifelong disease affecting over 1 per cent of the UK population.1 Due to its unpredictable nature, bipolar disorder has a significant impact on patients and their families. An estimated 25 to 50 per cent of patients with bipolar disorder attempt suicide and between 10 and 20 per cent of patients with bipolar disorder succeed.1,2
References
1. Muller-Oerlinghausen B et al. Bipolar Disorder. Lancet 2002 Jan 19; 359: 241-7
2. Jamison KR. Suicide and bipolar disorder. J Clin Psychiatry 200, 61 supp 9: 47-51
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