National Study of Bipolar Disorder Patients Highlights Potential Impact of Illness

Study Results Also Show Disorder Could Be Devastating for Young Adults

PR Newswire - April 15, 2003

CLEVELAND, Apr 15, 2003 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Results published today in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry from the first prevalence and impact survey among people with symptoms of bipolar disorder in the U.S., reveal that the illness significantly disrupts virtually all aspects of their daily lives including work, academic performance and interpersonal relationships. These findings also indicate the disease may disproportionately impact 18-24 year-olds, pointing to the significant burden on this age group of one of the most common mental illnesses.

The study is based on a survey of people who responded positively to a screening tool for bipolar disorder, suggesting they had symptoms of the disorder. Results of the study suggest bipolar disorder causes significant impairment, affecting work and academic success. In this study, more than half of the people with symptoms of bipolar disorder were at high risk for being fired or laid off and nearly half reported poor performance on the job. Further, symptomatic people were less likely to have fulfilling personal relationships with many experiencing difficulties with their spouses, children and relatives. In addition, people with symptoms of bipolar disorder were only half as likely to marry and of those who did, they were twice as likely to divorce or separate.

"These findings are important as they reinforce what physicians have suspected about the effects of bipolar disorder," said Joseph Calabrese, Director of the Mood Disorders Program, University Hospital of Cleveland and Professor of Psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. "While the initial findings from the prevalence study suggest that bipolar disorder may affect millions more Americans than previously believed, the results from this impact study paint a dramatic picture of how bipolar disorder affects these patients' ability to lead positive, productive lives."

Effect of Bipolar Disorder on American Young Adults

In addition to the effect of bipolar disorder on daily life, the study also revealed the impact of illness across gender and age ranges. According to the results, bipolar disorder is eight times more likely to affect those aged 18-24 compared to those over 55. Researchers also found young people with symptoms of bipolar disorder experienced more disruption in their lives, reporting twice as many symptom days as their older counterparts. Further, people in this age group noted that the symptoms of bipolar disorder disrupted their lives 70 percent of the time.

Diverse Experiences of Men and Women with the Illness

Researchers also noted that while bipolar disorder affects men and women equally, their experiences with the disease are distinctly different. In this study, women with symptoms of bipolar disorder noted more disruption in their social and family lives than men and experienced more co-morbidities including allergies, anxiety, arthritis, asthma, chronic fatigue syndrome and panic attacks. Conversely, researchers found men with symptoms of bipolar disorder reported a higher incidence of legal problems, as they were three times more likely to have been jailed, arrested or convicted of a crime.

"The onset of bipolar disorder occurs during the late teens to early twenties and these results point to the significant burden of bipolar disorder on young adults in America during the prime of their lives," said Lydia Lewis, executive director, Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance. "Bipolar disorder is devastating and debilitating, particularly for those who have either been undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. These findings underscore the role of early diagnosis and appropriate treatment in preventing the consequences of the disease."

About the Prevalence and Impact Study

Funding for this national study was provided by GlaxoSmithKline. The study was designed to assess the prevalence and impact of bipolar disorder in the United States. The Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) -- a screening tool for bipolar disorder -- was mailed to 127,800 U.S. adults with a 67 percent (85,358 returns) rate of response. The survey was distributed to a representative sample of adults, balanced to match the 2000 U.S. census data for age, gender, region, market size and household income. A positive MDQ screen was defined as recognition of seven or more out of 13 bipolar symptoms plus co-occurrence of at least two symptoms and patient-rated assessment of moderate or serious degree of functional impairment due to symptoms. The results of impact were then based on survey responses from MDQ respondents.

About Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a chronic illness marked by disabling distressing mood swings from high (manic) to low (depressed) states. There are two distinct types of bipolar disorder -- bipolar I disorder and bipolar II disorder. Bipolar I disorder is characterized by the occurrence of one or more manic or mixed episodes and often individuals have also had one or more major depressive episodes; in bipolar II disorder, a person experiences hypomania (a milder form of mania with less severe symptoms) and depression. If manic and depressive symptoms overlap for a period of time, it is called a "mixed" episode.(i) Bipolar disorder may be associated with suicide in nearly 10-15 percent of patients,(ii) making it one of the most serious and deadly psychiatric illnesses.(iii) When not adequately treated, bipolar disorder can worsen and patients can experience a greater frequency of events.(iv)

Additionally, researchers estimate that more than 40 percent of individuals with bipolar disorder abuse alcohol or drugs during their illness.(v) Misdiagnosis and delayed treatment of bipolar disorder are common, with patients going an average of 8 years without an accurate diagnosis.(vi)

For more information on bipolar disorder, please contact your physician, the Mood Disorder Program at University Hospitals of Cleveland (216) 844-2866 or visit www.ibipolar.com

Funding for the study and media relations assistance were provided by GlaxoSmithKline.

(i) Bipolar Disorder Fact Sheet, InteliHealth, p. 1.

(ii) Hirschfeld RMA, et al. "Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients with Bipolar Disorder (Revision)." American Journal of Psychiatry. 2002; 159:17.

(iii) Baldessarini RJ, et al. "Effects of lithium treatment and its discontinuation on suicidal behavior in bipolar manic-depressive disorders." Journal of Clinical Psychiatry 1999; 60 (suppl 2) 77-84.

(iv) Bipolar Disorder: Rapid Cycling and Its Treatment. National Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association. 2002; p6.

(v) Regier DA, et al. "Comorbidity of mental disorders with alcohol and other drug abuse: results from the Epidemiologic Catchment Area (ECA) Study." JAMA 1990; 264:2511-2518.

(vi) Kahn D.A., et. al. "Treatment of Bipolar Disorder: A Guide for Patients and Families." Medication Treatment of Bipolar Disorder 2000; A Postgraduate Special Report. April 2000; p2

SOURCE Journal of Clinical Psychiatry

CONTACT: Eileen Korey, Director of News Services of University Hospitals of Cleveland, +1-216-844-3825, or George Stamatis, Director of Public Affairs of Case Western Reserve University, +1-216-368-3635, both for the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry

URL: http://www.ibipolar.com; http://www.prnewswire.com

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