Bipolar Disorders

Abstract

Bipolar and related disorders are complex, chronic conditions characterized by periods of significantly depressed and elevated mood. Individuals with bipolar disorder experience marked impairments in occupational and interpersonal functioning, and these difficulties have been shown to persist despite clinical remission in approximately half of the diagnosed population (Sanchez-Moreno et al., 2009). Indeed, bipolar disorder ranks as the ninth leading cause of disability worldwide (World Health Organization, 2001). The majority of patients with bipolar disorder will have at least one other comorbid psychiatric diagnosis; substance use and anxiety disorders are particularly prevalent and can contribute to poorer illness outcomes (American Psychiatric Association, 2013; Bauer et al., 2005). Rates of completed suicide among individuals with bipolar disorder are between 15 and 60 times that of the general population, and 25–50% of those with the diagnosis will attempt suicide within their lifetime (Baldessarini, Pompili, & Tondo, 2006; Jamison, 2000). Bipolar disorder has a strong genetic component (McGuffin et al., 2003), but environmental influences such as stress or trauma may impact illness onset and severity (Aldinger & Schulze, 2017). Some research has suggested that psychological factors including temperamental differences or cognitive dysfunction may also serve as vulnerabilities for the development of the disorder (McKinnon, Cusi, & MacQueen, 2013). Accurate diagnosis is crucial to ensure the effective treatment and management of this often debilitating condition.