Why does it take an average of 8 years to diagnose this disease with an extremely high suicide rate?

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42.3 % of bipolar disorder cases are misdiagnosed as depression in the early stages. About 15% of patients treated for depression alone may have unrecognized bipolar disorder.

Typically , a hypomanic episode is characterized by high mood, high energy, and increased activity that lasts for more than one week. A depressive episode is characterized by low mood, lack of motivation, self-blame, and guilt that lasts for more than two weeks, accompanied by physical anxiety symptoms such as insomnia and loss of appetite.

It should be noted that bipolar disorder is not schizophrenia. After standardized treatment, the acute episode of bipolar disorder can usually be completely relieved, the mood is stable, and the patient can work and live normally, and social functions are well preserved.

Mood is a spontaneous calm and lasting emotional state. Unlike emotions, it is not caused by a sudden event. It is generally believed that the mood swings of bipolar patients are unrelated to life events.

References

[1] Amygdala and anterior cingulate transcriptomes from individuals with bipolar disorder reveal downregulated neuroimmune and synaptic pathways

[2] Bipolar Disorder: From Severe Depression to Crazy Euphoria. China Youth Daily and China Youth Online reporter Xia Jin

[3] UpToDate: Bipolar disorder in adults: Clinical features

[4] DSM-5, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (desk reference book)

[5] Zhou Shuxin, Li Wen. Bipolar disorder: a review[J]. Chinese Journal of General Practice, 2013, 16(5):473-477.

[6] Zhang Ben, Liu Zhizhong, Meng Dongsheng. A comparative study of personality characteristics of first-degree relatives of patients with bipolar disorder[J]. Chinese Journal of Mental Health, 1994(2):79-80.

Planning and production

Source: Higher-end humans (ID: xinji656)

Reviewer: Fan Chunlei, Associate Researcher, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Editor: Yinuo

Proofread by Xu Lai and Lin Lin