Those at Risk

It is estimated that over 2 million Americans suffer from bipolar affective disorder. This mental illness usually has its onset in adulthood before the age of 35. However, children can also develop this disease and generally at a more severe level.

In regards to gender, both men and women are susceptible to bipolar affective disorder. However, with women mood transition occurs at a more rapid rate than occurs for men. It is also documented that women may suffer more frequent episodes of depression than their male counterparts. Additionally, there is a direct correlation to drug dependency with those individuals who have been diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder.