8/13/2019 Who Gets Bipolar Disorder

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Who gets affected by bipolar disorder?

Both men andwomenare affected at the same rate.

Genetics and ones family history appear to both have some influence over the

likelihood of being diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder is more common in those who have a sibling or parent with the

illness and in families having several generations affected with mood disorders. Differing rates of bipolar disorder have not been reported for different races.

Lower socioeconomic status may be slightly linked to a higher rate of bipolar

disorder.

Men and women have an equal chance of being diagnosed with the disorder.

The first episode in men tends to be amanicepisode, while women are more

likely to first experience adepressiveepisode.

The estimated average age for the onset of bipolar disorder is during the early

20s, although there have been reports of the disorder beginning as early as

elementary school.

In fact, bipolar disorder appears before age 20 in about one in five manic

individuals.

Who gets bipolar disorder?

It is not clear what causes bipolar disorder (ordepression,for that matter). However, it isknown that bipolar disorder has strong genetic links: more than 60% of people with bipolardisorder have at least one close relative with either bipolar disorder or with unipolar majordepression. So if someone in your immediate family has had some form of depression(particularly if they were bipolar themselves) you are more likely to be diagnosed as bipolar.It

affects men and women equally, unlike major depression which tends to affect more women.

It has also been noted that highly creative people - including artists, musicians, authors andpoets - exhibit signs of bipolar disorder in disproportionate numbers. Some have beendiagnosed relatively recently (Stephen Fry, Ben Stiller) while others received treatment ormanaged themselves for years (Margot Kidder, Jeremy Brett). Historical figures such asWinston Churchill and Hans Christian Anderson were later "diagnosed" through diaries orletters and analysis of their works and behavior.

It is possible that the combination of the manic highs and depressive lows give creativepeople new insight, or a different way of viewing the world; it is also possible that whatever

causes the extra creativity in the brain also creates a greater tendency towards bipolardisorder.

Who is affected by bipolar disorder?Bipolar disorder affects both men and women, and over 2 million American adults have it.

Most often, the first episode happens when a person is in their late teens to early 20s. But it

can also happen in young children and older adults.

Some people are born with a greater chance of getting bipolar disorder. This is because itcan run in families

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