Bipolar disorder rates higher in U.S.: Why?

Bipolar rates are higher in the U.S. than in other countries, new survey shows.

/ istockphoto

(CBS) Charlie Sheen may or may not have bipolar disorder, but new research suggests that the potentially deadly mood disorder may be more prevalent in the U.S. than in other countries.

A survey of 61,000 people in 11 countries showed that 4.4 percent of Americans have the disorder, which is characterized by shifts in mood from deep sadness to an almost euphoric state called mania.

What about other countries? India has the lowest rate of bipolar disorder, with 0.1 percent of its population affected. Other countries cited in the survey included Columbia (2.6 percent) and Japan (0.7 percent). Worldwide, 2.4 percent of the population is bipolar, according to the survey, which was published in the March issue of Archives of General Psychiatry.

Exactly why Americans are more vulnerable to bipolar disorder, a.k.a. manic depression, isn't quite clear.

Wealth may be one factor, researchers say. In general, bipolar was shown to be more prevalent in the high-income nations, with Japan the lone exception. But our openness about our emotional issues may also mean that Americans are simply more likely to get a proper diagnosis.

"Cultural awareness plays a very big role in psychiatry," Dr. Sara Bodner, assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Miami School of Medicine, told CNN. "Some cultures have a huge reluctance to speak about psychiatric things."

Whatever the reason, it's clear that bipolar disorder takes a big toll on Americans' health. Without appropriate treatment - often antidepressant medication in conjunction with counseling - the shifting moods and energy levels, distractibility, restlessness, disturbed sleep, and other hallmarks of the illness can affect relationships, job performance, and even the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks.

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[snowboarder5]

"people have ups and downs, bipolars just have more of them," what next? people who feel happy all the time are apparently "unipolar?" I'm sorry is there something I don't understand or is this is a joke? I believe bipolar is a made-up disorder used by people who refuse to accept others for their personalities.

If the criteria for symptoms that constitute as "disorder" are ones that affects your daily life and performance, what's the point of taking medication with more side effects than the disorder to begin with that will further affect your quality of life? Trading being hardworking and motivated (a symptom of mania, apparently), and sometimes feel low (apparently only bipolar sufferers ever feel low.) for being uncreative, having tremors, robotic in mood, all which contributes to a good quality of life and performance in work. Give me a break, no wonder "bipolars" don't like to take their medications.


I was once diagnosed as bipolar, could it be that I feel sad because I hate how shallow and stupid people can be? feel down because I was hurt? could it be that I'm hardworking and fast talking because it's my personality? And angry because of legitimate ******** in my life?

You think I have a problem? I think I might have one of those "******** PUTTING BULLET IN MY MAILBOX PROBLEM." Because that movie describes just my point on what all this is about: putting labels on things you don't understand so you don't have to deal with them.

People do feel angry when people wronged them, sad when things are bad, proud when they've accomplished something, how much is up to them to decide, that's just common sense. When people see someone displaying a certain emotion and can't or refuse to understand why, they call it a disorder, and when the person tries to explain, they call it "denial." It doesn't take a medical degree to figure this stuff out, seriously.

I was once diagnosed as bipolar, on one hand, I agree with endunions and wendy16, some people need to pull their head out of their rear ends and start taking responsibility for the choices that they make, but likewise you have a choice to complain about what you see as injust, be sad when your girlfriend leave you, there's nothing wrong with that. What's wrong is lazily putting a label all this and toss some medication over and call it helping a loved one.

[stewiesmom11]

I believe many psychiatric disorders can be resolved through diet. In the US, we eat a lot of artificial food coloring, genetically modified and pesticide-ridden grains, fruits, and vegetables, and unhealthy, antibiotic-fed animals. In countries like India, they don't eat like this and they don't have so many perservatives and artificial ingredients in their food.
I have a 6 year old with Autism, it is real, but I do believe it was caused because I was brainwashed by American mainstream culture. By this I mean, I vaccinated my child on schedule, I fed him what I thought was healthy, and I ate what I thought was healthy while I was pregnant.
My sons condition is GREATLY improved through diet. He eats NO artificial colors, NO pesticides, and NO preservatives. By changing my sons diet in this manner, I do NOT need to medicate him, he CAN sleep through the night, he does NOT have to wear diapers during the day or at night.
I believe some individuals are more sensitive to what they eat than others. I believe this for ADD/ADHD, Autism and other spectrum disorders, bipolar disorder, schizophenia, etc.

[Bipolar1949]

I have had bipolar since the age of eight and it was triggered by a major trauma. I was fifty seven when I was finally diagnosed. I have developed a board game to help sufferers understand the illness and explain it to their families. These boards have already changed many peoples lives. I am not making money out of this. I charge what it costs to produce.
If you want to read my story you can on www.choicesbipolar.info
Believe me Bipolar is real and I wouldn't wish it on my worse enemy.
Jocelyn

Jocelyn Duncan

[iam486]

where's the last comment I left?

[iam486]

I think bipolar is both real and made up. I have it and believe it is caused by early childhood trauma such as sexual abuse, which society is unwilling to countenance. It is just easier to make up a diagnosis such as bipolar rather than face the truth that it is child abuse either sexual, psychological or spiritual and not so much physical.

[kayla77777]

What about people who have not had early childhood trauma who are afflicted with it? Bipolar is the term they give for the symptoms. The term is made up, not the symptoms.

[endunions]

The reason there are more case's in the USA is because this disease isn't real. Just like a bunch of other made up disorders our medicine men have concocted to get us to keep coming to the doctor and taking drugs. Just one of many scams and shams going on in our new 21st century that we have to avoid. So quit brainwashing your kids telling them they have add, autism, bipolar and quit complaining about your fibermyalgia, and restless leg syndrome. The pity party is over, stand tall, tell yourself your normal and start acting like it. I know it's trendy to have these things, you like to be special, but people will like you for the real you much better. Just say no to fictitious ailments.

[kayla77777]

Bipolar is trendy. Give me a break. You are ignorant. When you've gone through what people with bipolar go through, come back and tell us what you think then.

[ConcernedArmyWife]

endunions: Thank you, I'll be sure to tell my 5-year-old to stop having conversations with people who aren't there (and actually seeing someone there), to stop with the suicidal/homicidal ideations, quick mood changes, 3-hr rages, etc. etc. I guess, I somehow "brainwashed" my (adopted)son into acting like this and his families (maternal side) history with bipolar should be overlooked? Thank you for your uneducated insight. If this DISORDER (its not a disease) isn't real then please tell me where this came from. We have never allowed it to be used as an excuse and never will; he doesn't even know about it bc he is just 5.

[luthien2011]

This is a clear case where numbers are twisted to make a story. India has a very low prevalence of 'bipolar' disorder because mental health care is very limited in India. There is a huge stigma attached with visiting a psychiatrist which accounts for the low reported rate of this so called disorder. Numbers aren't enough to state whether the issue is widespread so stop making claims based on limited data.

[kayla77777]

First of all, to the person who wrote this article, bipolar is not treated with anti-depressants. In fact, anti-depressants alone will make someone who has bipolar worse. Anti-depressants may be prescribed along with a mood stabilizer, but the mood stabilizer is the most important med. Second, to cyber and cc, that is ridiculous to say 4.4% of the population in the U.S. are diagnosed with bipolar because of a financial incentive and because of social security disability. Believe me, people aren't running to the doctor's office hoping to be diagnosed with bipolar. Get real. In fact, most people live in denial about it for a long time before getting help and a proper diagnosis. Obviously, you know nothing about bipolar and I hope for your sake you or no one in your family ever becomes afflicted with it. You can talk smack all you want until you're in someones elses shoes. Not to mention, a lot of people with bipolar are fortunate to have responded to medication and are able to work and would seem as "normal" as anyone else.

[mlkz95]

1. In my Layman's Diagnosis I believe that Charlie Sheen is just displaying all the traits of someone in the public eye who is just sick and tired of everyone been on his back. That as a result of living in the public eye all the time their is a sort of mode or standard of living which celebrities must live up to. If Charlie Sheen has bi-polar than so does Lyndsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, Mel Gibson, and Jagger to name a few.

2. Re: Drugs. In Charlie Sheens history of been diagnosed with mental illness is perhaps the drugs he might be taking as a result be the cause. Often some anti-psychotic drugs have worse side-effects than what they are suppose to cure. I wonder of C.Sheen is on Restoril.

[cyberus-2009]

Why?

Because there is a bigger financial incentive to diagnose and treat bipolar (and many MANY other conditions) in the US than other places.

[ccdsswrkr08]

Why?

Because Social Security Dissability is now accepting the diagnosis of BiPolar Disorder as a valid dissability, Dr's are willing to fill out the paperwork (for a fee) and so they are now paying these people to sit on their butts and not work because of it.