A global survey on bipolar disorder conducted by the World Federation for Mental Health reveals that patients of the disease feel that their
A global survey on bipolar disorder conducted by the World Federation for Mental Health reveals that patients of the disease feel that their quality of life suffers because of their disease.
Bipolar disorder is a psychotic disorder characterized by successive feelings of elation and depression. Also known as manic-depressive illness that affects 3 to 4 5 of the global adult population. This is a chronic condition and most of the sufferers have multiple occurrences of the condition for most of their lives.The survey results reveal that a third of the total people surveyed feel that social interactions suffer, as people tend to discriminate against them. 20% of the respondents have decided to never tell anyone about their condition. Majority of them agree that successful treatment can help them become integrated into the society and help them keep their jobs and maintain a family. While more than 70%of the people surveyed did not understand the nature of their disease in totality.
The survey results bring to the forefront the absence of awareness for the disease and the social stigma attached to it as a result of public ignorance about the condition. Researcher for the study commented that although people who suffer from bipolar disease can successfully manage their condition with treatment, this knowledge is yet to reach the people concerned.
Reference: World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry, news release, June 2005
