Written by: Petros Skapinakis, MD, MPH, PhD, lecturer of
Psychiatry in the University of Ioannina Medical School, Greece.
Eva Gerasi, postgraduate student in the Department of
Psychiatry, University Hospital of Ioannina, Greece. 22 Jul
2008. 30 Jul 2008. How common is bipolar disorder? What is the
frequency of its occurrence? In which ages does it usually
start? Studies in the USA have shown that more than 2 million
American adults, 1 or about 1 percent of the population age 18
and older in any given year, have bipolar disorder. Bipolar
disorder typically develops in late adolescence or early
adulthood. However, some people have their first symptoms during
childhood, and some develop them late in life. Disclaimer: The
documents contained in this web site are presented for
information purposes only. The material is in no way intended to
replace professional medical care or attention by a qualified
psychiatrist or psychotherapist. It can not and should not be
used as a basis for diagnosis or choice of treatment