Bipolar Disorder in People living with Chronic illness: Prevalence, Risk & Key Differences

Key things to know What the evidence shows
How common is it? Not established across all chronic illnesses
Is it more common among people living with chronic illness? Some physical illnesses and BD have substantial comorbidity
Are people living with chronic illness at higher risk? Disease-specific associations exist
How much higher is the risk? Disease-specific
How often can it be missed? High
Does it show up differently among people living with chronic illness? Somewhat
How might it look different? Medical illness and medications may mimic or trigger mood symptoms
What commonly occurs alongside it? Anxiety; substance use; disease-specific conditions
What can it be confused with? Steroid/medication-induced mania; neurological/endocrine disease
Common screening tool MDQ
Separate screening tool for people living with chronic illness None universal
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