Bipolar Disorder in Men: Prevalence, Risk & Key Differences

Key things to know What the evidence shows
How common is it? 0.6% global 12-month, adults 20+
Is it more common among men? BP-I/subthreshold bipolar somewhat more common in men in WHO cross-national data
Are men at higher risk? No sex-specific increased overall risk established
How much higher is the risk? Reference
How often can it be missed? High
Does it show up differently among men? Somewhat
How might it look different? More BP-I/subthreshold bipolar in some international data; substance-use comorbidity often important
What commonly occurs alongside it? Substance-use disorders; anxiety; ADHD
What can it be confused with? MDD; ADHD; substance-induced mood disorder; BPD
Common screening tool MDQ
Separate screening tool for men None
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