Bipolar disorder has nothing to do with the ups and downs we all experience in life; it is much more severe, debilitating, and incapacitating.
Fortunately, it is treatable, and with proper care and the right medication, patients can perform well at work and academically and lead full, productive lives.
An estimated 2.9 percent of Americans are diagnosed with bipolar disorder and more than half of all cases start when patients are aged 15-25. Males and females are affected equally.