Bipolar disorder typically begins in adolescence or early adulthood and continues throughout life. It is often not recognized as an illness and people who have it may suffer needlessly for years or even decades. Effective treatments are available that greatly alleviate the suffering caused by bipolar disorder and can usually prevent its devastating complications. These include marital breakups, job loss, alcohol and drug abuse, and suicide. At least 2 million Americans suffer from manic-depressive illness.
Bipolar disorder tends to run in families and is believed to be inherited in many cases.
Despite vigorous research efforts, a specific genetic defect associated with the disease has not yet been detected. Bipolar illness has been diagnosed in children under age 12, although it is not common in this age bracket. Infectious humor ceases to amuse. One medication, lithium, is usually very effective in controlling mania and preventing the recurrence of both manic and depressive episodes. More recently, the mood-stabilizing anticonvulsants carbamazepine and valproate have also been found useful especially in more refractory bipolar episodes.