What is bipolar? Expand Bipolar – sometimes known as manic depression – is a severe mental health condition characterised by significant mood swings including manic highs and depressive lows. The majority of individuals with bipolar experience alternating episodes of mania and depression.Both males and females of any age and from any social or ethnic background can develop the illness. The symptoms can first occur and then reoccur when work, studies, family or emotional pressures are at their greatest. In women it can also be triggered by childbirth or by the menopause.The key to coping with bipolar is an early diagnosis, acceptance of the illness and adapting your lifestyle so you are in control of the symptoms as much as possible. Management of the illness can be achieved through strategies involving medication, health care, therapy and self management.
Bipolar – The Facts Expand What is bipolar? Bipolar is a severe mental health condition characterised by significant mood swings including manic highs and depressive lows. The majority of individuals with bipolar experience alternating episodes of mania and depression. 3 million people in the UK have bipolar. That is one in fifty people.1 1% to 2% of the population experience a lifetime prevalence of bipolar and recent research suggests as many as 5% of us are on the bipolar spectrum.2,3 Bipolar is one of the UK’s commonest long-term conditions with almost as many people living with bipolar as cancer (2.4%), it is more than twice as common as dementia (0.8%), epilepsy (0.8%), autism (0.8%), rheumatoid arthritis (0.7%) and learning disabilities (0.5%).4 It takes an average 9 years to get a correct diagnosis of bipolar and there is a misdiagnosis an average of 3.5 times.5 There is no national register and the Quality Outcomes Framework, which judges GP performance, groups bipolar with schizophrenia and psychosis, making meaningful assessments of referral rates impossible. Bipolar increases an individual’s risk of suicide by up to 20 times. We estimated that at least 800 people with bipolar take their lives every year. Of the people with bipolar alive today in the UK, 70,000 will take their own life unless action is taken.6 The World Health Organisation identifies bipolar as one of the top causes of lost years of life and health in 15 to 44 year olds.7 Many people with bipolar continue to lack the basic support and treatment needed to live well with the condition. 67% of people with bipolar received no self-management advice when they were first diagnosed.8 Anecdotally, many people with bipolar have experienced abuse in hospital and are dealing with undiagnosed post-traumatic stress.9 Just 21% of people with a long-term mental health condition are in employment.10 90% of people with bipolar had told their employer about their condition but 24% of them regretted making that decision.11 Rates of positive screening for bipolar disorder were higher in non-employed people, in those receiving particular benefits, and in people living alone. 4% of women on Employment Support Allowance screen positive for bipolar.12 72% of people with bipolar knew no one else with the condition when they were first diagnosed.13 1 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey: Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, England, 2014. 2 Merikangas KR, Peters TL, Update on the Epidemiology of Bipolar Disorder. In Yatham LN, Maj M “Bipolar Disorder Clinical and Neurobiological Foundations”, Chapter 6, page 52-61. Wiley-Blackwell UK, 2010. 3 Lam, D.; Wright, K.; Smith, N. (2004). "Dysfunctional assumptions in bipolar disorder". Journal of Affective Disorders 79. 4 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey: Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, England, 2014 and Quality and Outcomes Framework – Prevalence, England, 2015-16. 5 S. Nassir Ghaemi (2001). ‘Bipolar Disorder: How long does it usually take for someone to be diagnosed for bipolar disorder?’. Archived from the original on December 7, 2006. Retrieved February 20, 2007. 6 5-6% of people with bipolar disorder will end their lives by suicide. 7 Murray, C. and Lopez, A. ed., (1996). The Global Burden of Disease: A comprehensive assessment of mortality and disability from diseases, injuries, and risk factors in 1990 and projected to 2020. 1st ed. Boston: The Harvard School of Public Health. 8 Bipolar UK self-management survey 2020. 9 First-hand experience of staff and Trustees. 10 Office for National Statistics. Social and Vital Statistics Division, Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency. Central Survey Unit. (2014). Quarterly Labour Force Survey, October - December, 2006. [data collection]. 5th Edition. 11 Bipolar UK self-management survey, April 2020. 12 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey: Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, England, 2014. 13 Bipolar UK self-management survey 2020.
What medication is available? Expand The information presented in this section is available to download in our “Introduction To Medical Treatment For Bipolar" leaflet. Always seek medical advice from your doctor when making decisions about your medication. There is a range of different drugs used to treat bipolar. The medications used will depend on the nature and degree of your symptoms and the phase of the illness you are in. Bipolar is also associated with other problems such as sleep disturbance that may require additional medication. Drug treatment is the cornerstone of treating bipolar, but there are many other aspects to keeping well. Medications commonly used are: Drugs for mood stabilisation or mood maintenance Drugs when high (hypomania or mania) Drugs for bipolar depression Drugs used for associated problems Scientific evidence shows that how effective a medication is (or how effective different combinations of medications are) varies significantly for each individual. People can respond differently to the same drug and an individual’s response to a drug can change over time. There are a variety of side effects and different people will experience these in different ways. There are also new drugs being developed for bipolar all the time. Be Safe. Never change your medication without speaking with your doctor first.
Could mood swings mean bipolar? A leaflet designed for people who are concerned about their mental health. Expand A leaflet designed for people who are concerned about their mental health. This leaflet is for you if you or your doctor is concerned about your mental health. You might have discussed the possibility of bipolar and you might have been referred to a specialist. It gives an introduction to bipolar and how monitoring your moods and behaviour can help you understand your mood swings. Download this leaflet as a PDF You may also like to view: Your donation will help provide a range of services offering the support people need, when they need it. You can make sure there's someone at the end of the phone to listen, a nearby group to share lived experiences, a 24-hour peer forum and more. Together, we can support the person behind the diagnosis of bipolar.
Introduction to Bipolar An introduction to bipolar disorder and the services offered by Bipolar UK Expand An introduction to bipolar disorder and the services offered by Bipolar UK Bipolar, sometimes known as manic depression, is a severe mental illness characterised by significant mood swings including manic highs and depressive lows. Download this leaflet as a PDF
Information for family and friends A leaflet about what you can do to support someone with bipolar Expand A leaflet about what you can do to support someone with bipolar Living with bipolar can make it difficult to maintain friendships and relationships. The more information you have as a family member or friend, the better able you are to support a loved one affected by bipolar. Download this leaflet as a PDF
Bipolar in children and young people A leaflet for family and friends supporting a young person with bipolar Expand A leaflet for family and friends supporting a young person with bipolar The specific needs of young people affected by bipolar can be very different to those affecting adults. Download this leaflet as PDF
Family and Friends Helpful links to other websites and organisations that can offer help and support to family, friends and carers. Expand Carers UKHelp and support for people who are looking after other people. Young MindsSupport and information for people caring for a young person with a mental health condition Family Actionprovides specialist mental health and wellbeing services for adults, working with the individual directly affected as well as their children and families. SOBS - Survivors of Bereavement by SuicideAims to meet the needs and break the isolation of those bereaved by the suicide of a close relative or friend. Cruse Bereavement CareOffer support, advice and information to children, young people and adults when someone dies, and to enhance society's care of bereaved people. Home-StartHelps families with young children deal with whatever life throws at them. They support parents as they learn to cope, improve their confidence and build better lives for their children. Family LivesRuns a 24 hour Confidential helpline on 0808 800 2222, Live online chat, Email support service, Parentchannel.tv, Forums, Online parenting courses, In your area National Family MediationProvide free family mediation now available for separating couples. Help and support everyone involved. Relate Counselling for adults with relationship difficulties.
Is there a medical test for bipolar? Expand There is no medical test for bipolar. Instead your GP or psychiatrist will usually complete an assessment focusing on your mood swings. They will ask questions about your family history and background, your sleeping pattern, your diet and your behaviour. They may also take notes about when you first experienced symptoms. All this information is relevant to help make an informed diagnosis. You may also like to view:
Is there a cause or cure for bipolar? Expand Although much progress has been made in understanding bipolar and how it can be managed, research has still not led to either a consensus on the cause or a cure. Some research suggests that there is, if not a known genetic link, then certainly an inherited predisposition to developing bipolar. It is also known that stressful life events may often precede an episode of mania, hypomania or depression. As our understanding of the function of the brain increases, more insights and more effective medication can be developed. This is why Bipolar UK works in partnership with research organisations.You may also like to see this: