Bipolar disorder is marked by intense mood swings of mania or hypomania and depression that have major impacts on relationships, work, and daily life. It can be treated with a combination of therapy and medication. If you know someone with bipolar disorder or are suffering from bipolar, here’s what you need to know.
Online Psychiatry Covered by Insurance
Talkiatry can match you with a real psychiatrist who takes your insurance and is seeing new patients. They’re in-network with major insurers and offer medication management. Get started with a short online assessment
Bipolar Disorder Facts
An estimated 4.4% of U.S. adults experience bipolar disorder at some time in their lives.1
The following statistics pertain to bipolar disorder generally:1,2
- 2.8% of adults had bipolar disorder in 2001 to 2003
- Of those adults, 82.9% had serious impairment, one of the highest for any mood disorder
- About 17.1% had moderate impairment
- Those with bipolar are more likely to have suffered from greater instances of childhood trauma and internalized shame than those without
- According to another study, about 50% of those with bipolar also suffered from childhood trauma
Bipolar Disorder Rates by Age
Age can play a large part in diagnosis and prevalence, depending on when symptoms were noticed and how long it takes to get a diagnosis. Adolescents with bipolar make up a significant part of bipolar diagnosis.
The following are statistics about bipolar disorder by age:1
- According to the NIMH, 4.7% of adults with bipolar in 2001 to 2003 were 18 to 29 years old
- In that same study, 3.5% of adults were aged 30 to 44
- And 2.2% of adults were aged 45 to 59
- 2.9% of adolescents aged 13 to 18 were diagnosed with bipolar disorder from 2001-2003
- 2.6% of them had severe impairment
- The highest prevalence of cases in 2004 was found in adolescents aged 17 to 18 (4.3%)
- In 2004, Adolescents aged 15 to 16 made up 3.1%
- In 2004, Adolescents aged 13 to 14 made up 1.9%
Help for Bipolar Disorder
Online Psychiatry for Bipolar Disorder – Talkiatry can match you with a real psychiatrist who takes your insurance and is seeing new patients. They’re in-network with major insurers and offer medication management. Most psychiatry visits cost patients $30 or less* Free Assessment
DBT Skills Course for Bipolar – Jones Mindful Living Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a popular treatment for bipolar. Learn DBT skills with live weekly classes and online video courses for only $19 per month. Free one-week trial
*Includes copayment, deductible, coinsurance, and $0 Visits. Excludes no shows.
Bipolar Disorder Rates by Gender
There are small but noticeable differences in bipolar disorder rates by gender:1
- NIMH states that the diagnosis rate between men and women is very similar, 2.9% to 2.8%, respectively
- This is slightly different for adolescents aged 13 to18, where females make up 3.3% of cases versus 2.6% in males
Bipolar Disorder & Co-Occurring Diagnoses
Those with bipolar may also suffer from other diagnoses, and may also struggle with substance abuse.
The following statistics pertain to other co-occurring mental health disorders that are seen alongside bipolar disorder:2,3,4
- Those with bipolar may also suffer from anxiety, ADHD, or PTSD
- According to SAMSA, 30 to more than 50% of those with bipolar will develop a substance abuse disorder in their lives
- Alcohol is usually misused by people with bipolar
- Bipolar patients with co-occurring alcohol use disorder are less likely to seek out or maintain a treatment plan
- They are also more likely to be hospitalized and attempt suicide
- Those with severe manic episodes may also be at risk of bipolar psychosis, with symptoms such as hallucination or delusions
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is marked by intense mood swings of mania or hypomania that have major impacts on why bipolar relationships fail, work difficulty, and daily life. It can be treated with a combination of therapy and medication. If you know someone with bipolar disorder or are suffering from bipolar, here’s what you need to know.
Has There Been an Increase in Bipolar Disorder Diagnosis?
There are a number of factors that can have an effect on bipolar diagnoses, such as overdiagnosis, incorrect diagnosis, and more. But have bipolar diagnoses been more prevalent recently?
The following statistics pertain to the amount of bipolar disorders being diagnosed:5,6
- A 2007 New York Times article stated that bipolar diagnoses had increased 40-fold in children from 1994 to 2003, but the research has experts on both sides questioning the reason.
- One theory is that the addition of Bipolar II diagnosis and the “broadening conceptualization of bipolar spectrum disorders” may be responsible.
- There may also be a significant overlap between ADHD and bipolar, especially for children who don’t quite fit into one diagnosis. This can lead to complications when diagnosing either.
Treatment for Bipolar Disorder
Like other mental health conditions, bipolar disorder can be treated with a combination of therapy and bipolar medication, which vary depending on the severity of the diagnosis.
Treatment for bipolar disorder is effective:7
- According to one study, patients taking medication for bipolar symptoms are more likely to recover faster if they also participate in intensive psychotherapy
- 64% of those patients taking both medication and intensive psychotherapy had “become well”
- Those patients were also 1.5 times more likely to be well at any given month during the trial year
- Those in family-focused therapy also had higher rates of recovery
Additional Resources
Education is just the first step on our path to improved mental health and emotional wellness. To help our readers take the next step in their journey, Choosing Therapy has partnered with leaders in mental health and wellness. Choosing Therapy may be compensated for marketing by the companies mentioned below.
Online Psychiatry for Bipolar Disorder
Talkiatry – Our psychiatrists can diagnose your condition, prescribe medication, and monitor your progress. Most psychiatry visits cost patients $30 or less* Free Assessment
Talk Therapy
Online-Therapy.com – Get support and guidance from a licensed therapist. Online-Therapy.com provides 45 minute weekly video sessions and unlimited text messaging with your therapist for only $64/week. Get started
Starting Therapy Newsletter
A free newsletter for those interested in learning about therapy and how to get the most benefits out of therapy. Get helpful tips and the latest information. Sign Up
DBT Skills Course
Jones Mindful Living Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a popular treatment for BPD. Learn DBT skills with live weekly classes and online video courses for only $19 per month. Free one-week trial
Choosing Therapy Directory
You can search for therapists by specialty, experience, insurance, or price, and location. Find a therapist today.
*Includes all types of patient cost: copayment, deductible, and coinsurance. Excludes no shows and includes $0 Visits
Best Online Therapy Services
There are a number of factors to consider when trying to determine which online therapy platform is going to be the best fit for you. It’s important to be mindful of what each platform costs, the services they provide you with, their providers’ training and level of expertise, and several other important criteria.
Best Online Psychiatry Services
Online psychiatry, sometimes called telepsychiatry, platforms offer medication management by phone, video, or secure messaging for a variety of mental health conditions. In some cases, online psychiatry may be more affordable than seeing an in-person provider. Mental health treatment has expanded to include many online psychiatry and therapy services. With so many choices, it can feel overwhelming to find the one that is right for you.