The estimated lifetime prevalence of bipolar disorder among adults worldwide is 1 to 3 percent, and the lifetime prevalence of bipolar I and bipolar II disorder was 2.8 percent. The mean age of onset for bipolar I disorder is 18 years and for bipolar II disorder 20 years. The one-year prevalence of bipolar I disorder in people aged 65 years and older is approximately 0.4 percent and the lifetime rate is 0.8 percent. These rates were less than rates in younger individuals.
The estimated lifetime prevalence of bipolar disorder among adults worldwide is 1 to 3 percent[1], and the lifetime prevalence of bipolar I and bipolar II disorder was 2.8 percent[2]
The mean age of onset for bipolar I disorder is 18 years and for bipolar II disorder 20 years[3]. The ratio of men to women who develop bipolar disorder is approximately 1:1.
In the United States, the estimated lifetime prevalence of bipolar I disorder was 1 percent, and bipolar II disorder 1.1 percent. The mean age of onset for bipolar I and bipolar II disorder was 18 and 20 years.[4]
Bipolar disorder is the 18th leading cause of disability in the United States.[5]
Individuals with manic or hypomanic episodes, psychosocial functioning is severely impaired in 70 percent; in 90 percent of the affected individuals functioning is severely impaired during episodes of major depression.[4]
The one-year prevalence of bipolar I disorder in people aged 65 years and older is approximately 0.4 percent and the lifetime rate is 0.8 percent. These rates were less than rates in younger individuals.[6]
Geriatric bipolar patients are predominantly female; 69 percent of late-life bipolar patients were women.[7]
The prevalence of bipolar spectrum disorders in children and adolescents is approximately 2 percent.[8] However it is not well established because several factors make the diagnosis of bipolar disorder in pediatric complex and controversial.[9]
Pediatric bipolar disorder is characterized by high rates of comorbidity.[8]
Community studies suggest that the prevalence of bipolar disorder may be greater among adolescents (age 13 to 18 years) than children (age ≤12 years)[10][11]