early onset bipolar disorder
Two fascinating research studies have just been published, which at first glance appears to be a tad inconsistent.
On 2 September 2009 is reported in The Bipolar Lives blog, University of Missouri study found that nearly half of young adults suffering from bipolar disorder will recover from the disease when reach age 30. But the very next day, Sept. 3, it was reported that an Australian study found that bipolar 1 development at an early age is associated with worse clinical outcomes. So it's a young person who has developed bipolar disorder more likely to get better, or more likely to get worse?
Here are some things to think about:
(1) The University of Missouri study is unusual in stating that people with bipolar "recovered". The consensus experts in general for many years has been that bipolar disorder is "treatable but not" curable ". It is possible, given the high rates of misdiagnosis bipolar disorder, study participants who were not classic manic-depressive, but rather some other type of condition (s) that developed in nature that they simply "emerged" from.
(2) Furthermore, as the study's authors acknowledge, the numbers have fallen because people stopped to be included in the statistics of the most sinister reasons: "They could be jailed, they could be hospitalized and could die."
(3) Another explanation offered by the researcher: "When older people, who are involved in functions such as jobs and a pooling of treatment bipolar disorder is to have a routine. "
(4) Another reason is the difference in methodologies between the two studies. In the Australian study, the group of Early onset was 20 years old and younger, and follow-up observations were made 2 years later. Thus, study participants would still be much more younger than the participants in the Missouri study, which will begin to show improvements in 25 years of age and older.
Key Take Away: As usual, we need more research and the research we still be plagued by major problems of reliable diagnosis. However, even if the increase in youth being diagnosed with bipolar disorder is "real" evidence is growing that bipolar disorder can be managed and a positive, stable life is possible!
To learn more, see Bipolar-Lives.com.
Sarah Freeman is an attorney with manic-depressive illness, author of the best-selling e-Book “The Bipolar Diet”, and webmaster of http://www.bipolar-lives.com – one of the Internet’s leading sites on bipolar disorder. Bipolar Lives provides a unique blend of the latest research, effective bipolar management tools and techniques, and personal stories.
Bipolar Disorder
