Last year, bipolar affective disorder was listed as the fourth major mental disorder in the Outpatient Clinic of the Friar Bernardino Álvarez Psychiatric Hospital (HPFBA) were 34,300 consultations were reported in relation to that mental disorder, according to the Head of the Area, José Ibarreche Beltrán.
It is estimated that the prevalence of bipolar affective disorder in Mexico oscillates between 1% and 3%.
Bipolar affective disorder (BPAD) is a psychological illness characterized by periods of deep and prolonged depression that alternate with severe mood swings known as mania.
People who suffer from BPAD are prone to experience manic episodes such as exaltation, high self-steem, agitation, high mobility, over excitement, followed by hostility, irritability, depression, low self-esteem, despair, along with sleep and concentration disturbances.
José Ibarreche Beltrán pointed out that BPAD pathophysiology includes at least one major depressive episode lasting two weeks and at least one hypomanic episode lasting at least four days, however, if the patient experiences hallucinations, ideas of both greatness and delusions, BPAD can be diagnosed without the conditioner of time.
There are two recognized types of BPAD, BD-I, and BD-II. Bipolar I disorder is a bipolar spectrum disorder characterized by the occurrence of at least one high manic or depressive episode or even mixed episodes while bipolar II disorder is characterized by the occurrence of severe depression and only mild manic (hypomanic) episodes. Overall, BD-I affects women and men equally, yet BD-II occurs more commonly in women.
It should be noted that after BPAD, schizophrenia is listed as the third major mental disorder, followed by anxiety, and personality disorders.
Source: El Universal
