A lifetime illness that typically begins in adolescence or early adulthood, bipolar disorder is often not recognized as an illness, causing needless suffering for years or even decades. Effective treatment for this illness can alleviate suffering and usually prevent its devastating complications, which can include marital breakups, financial and occupational difficulties or losses, alcohol and drug abuse, and suicide. At least 2 million Americans suffer from this distressing and disruptive illness. Like other serious illnesses, bipolar disorder also impacts family, friends, and co-workers. Bipolar illness often runs in families.
Research continues to look for the inherited genetic defect associated with the illness.
The course of the illness varies. In others, mania is dominant and depression infrequent. Mania and depression may also occur together, in what is called a mixed bipolar state. Understanding the variety with which bipolar illness can be expressed is essential to recognition and treatment of this disorder. Almost all those with bipolar disorder, even in severe forms, can stabilize mood swings with proper treatment.