from the National Institute of Mental Health

Who is affected by bipolar disorder?
·         Bipolar disorder affects approximately 5.7 million adult Americans, or about 2.6% of the U.S. population age 18 and older every year.  (National Institute of Mental Health)
·         The median age of onset for bipolar disorder is 25 years (National Institute of Mental Health), although the illness can start in early childhood or as late as the 40’s and 50’s.
·         An equal number of men and women develop bipolar illness and it is found in all ages, races, ethnic groups and social classes.
·         Women and people with bipolar II disorder are significantly more likely to experience periods of rapid cycling than men with the same condition. (Damone, A. L., Joham, A. E., Loxton, D., Earnest, A., Teede, H. J., & Moran, L. J. (2018).