Bipolar Disorder: Who Gets Bipolar Disorder?

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than 2 million American adults have bipolar disorder. Unlike depression, bipolar disorder is equally common in men and women. Some studies have shown that bipolar disorder is genetically inherited, occurring more commonly within families.

Although the onset of bipolar disorder typically occurs in a person's early 20s, the first symptoms can appear in early childhood or even late in life. Children and adolescents can develop a severe form of this disorder, often in combination with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Reviewed by the doctors at The Cleveland Clinic Department of Psychiatry and Psychology.