The United States has the highest lifetime rate of bipolar disorder at 4.4 percent, and India the lowest, with 0.1 percent.
About 2.4 percent of people around the world have had a diagnosis of bipolar disorder at some point in their lifetime, according to a new study.
Bipolar disorder is characterized by cycles of depression and mania, a euphoric, high-energy state that can result in heightened levels of creativity or output as well as erratic or risky behavior. People with bipolar disorder are at high risk of substance abuse and suicide, and treatment includes psychiatric care and medication.
However, fewer than half of people with the disorder were treated by a mental health professional, and only a quarter of those in lower-income countries sought treatment, according to the 11-nation study in the March issue of Archives of General Psychiatry.
