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DATA PUBLISHED IN THE JOURNAL OF CLINICAL
PSYCHIATRY INDICATE BIPOLAR DISORDER MAY AFFECT THREE TIMES MORE
AMERICANS THAN PREVIOUSLY BELIEVED
University of Texas Medical
Branch at Galveston
Public Affairs Office
301 University Boulevard, Suite 3.102
Galveston, Texas 77555-0144
FOR RELEASE: Jan. 16, 2002
Results of Nationwide
Study Show High Levels of Under- and Misdiagnosis
GALVESTON, Texas — Results
from a landmark nationwide study published in the January issue of the Journal
of Clinical Psychiatry show that three times as many people may
suffer from bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, than
previously believed. In addition, the survey results from more than
85,000 Americans indicate that up to 80 percent of those who screened
positive had not been diagnosed with the illness and nearly one third
had been misdiagnosed with major depression—underscoring the need for
early detection and accurate diagnosis.
"These groundbreaking results
demonstrate that bipolar disorder is frequent and often
unrecognized," said Robert M.A. Hirschfeld, M.D., Titus Harris
Chair, Professor and Chair, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral
Sciences at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.
"While previous studies reported a prevalence of approximately 1
percent of the American population or 2.3 million Americans, these
results suggest that the illness affects millions—nearly 4 percent of
adult Americans. These data clearly demonstrate the magnitude of under-
and misdiagnosis of this serious illness and beg for improved screening
for this illness."
Data from this study show that bipolar
disorder may be most prevalent among young adults (ages 18-24) and those
with lower incomes.
The study also demonstrated the profound
impact that bipolar disorder has on the lives of affected patients.
People who screened positive for bipolar disorder reported significant
alcohol or drug abuse (19 percent). In addition, positive respondents
suffered from significantly higher rates of co-morbid health conditions
such as allergies, asthma and migraine.
"Bipolar disorder is a serious,
lifelong illness that when left untreated can worsen, with patients
experiencing a greater frequency of events," noted Lydia Lewis,
executive director, Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance. "As
bipolar disorder can cause noticeable disruptions in patients’ lives
and put them at risk for life-threatening events such as drug and
alcohol abuse and sadly, suicide, the results from this study underscore
the need for early identification and accurate diagnosis, which would
enable patients to manage the illness and live more productive lives.
The MDQ is a useful clinical tool for this purpose."
This national study was designed to
assess the prevalence and impact of bipolar disorder in the United
States. The Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ)—a validated 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.
About Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder, also known as
manic-depressive illness, is a lifelong, potentially fatal illness often
characterized by distressing and disruptive mood swings from high
(manic) to low (depressed) states. If manic and depressive symptoms
overlap for a period of time, this state is called a "mixed"
episode. There are two types of bipolar disorder. With bipolar I
disorder, a person must have experienced at least one episode of mania;
in bipolar II disorder, a person experiences hypomania (a milder form of
mania with less severe symptoms) and depression. The present study
screened for the prevalence of bipolar I and II disorders.
The most serious risk of bipolar disorder
is suicide, which is usually associated with the depressive and mixed
episodes. Early identification of potential patients using screening
instruments like the MDQ may help prevent this deadly consequence.
About the University of
Texas Medical Branch
Founded in 1891, UTMB is a major academic
health center with Schools of Medicine, Nursing, Allied Health Sciences
and Graduate Biomedical Sciences, as well as an Institute for the
Medical Humanities and a Marine Biomedical Institute. Through its six
hospitals that include a Level 1 Trauma Center and an extensive network
of campus- and community-based clinics, the university provides a full
range of primary and specialized medical care. An international leader
in telemedicine, UTMB provides the medical expertise of its specialists
to those in remote areas, including National Science Foundation
researchers and support personnel in Antarctica, who would otherwise be
unable to access this level of care. UTMB is also home to
internationally renowned research programs, including the Center for
Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Sealy Center for
Vaccine Development.
This study was supported by
GlaxoSmithKline.
— UTMB —
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