Background
The epidemiology of rapid-cycling bipolar disorder in the community is
largely unknown.
Aims
To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of rapid-cycling and
non-rapid-cycling bipolar disorder in a large cross-national community
sample.
Method
The Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI version 3.0) was
used to examine the prevalence, severity, comorbidity, impairment,
suicidality, sociodemographics, childhood adversity and treatment of
rapid-cycling and non-rapid-cycling bipolar disorder in ten countries
(n = 54 257).
Results
The 12-month prevalence of rapid-cycling bipolar disorder was 0.3%. Roughly
a third and two-fifths of participants with lifetime and 12-month bipolar
disorder respectively met criteria for rapid cycling. Compared with the
non-rapid-cycling, rapid-cycling bipolar disorder was associated with younger
age at onset, higher persistence, more severe depressive symptoms, greater
impairment from depressive symptoms, more out-of-role days from
mania/hypomania, more anxiety disorders and an increased likelihood of using
health services. Associations regarding childhood, family and other
sociodemographic correlates were less clear cut.
Conclusions
The community epidemiological profile of rapid-cycling bipolar disorder
confirms most but not all current clinically based knowledge about the
illness. |