Bipolar disorder: 8 myths debunked
Bipolar disorder is one of the most misunderstood psychiatric conditions. Contrary to popular belief, it is not simply about mood swings — it is a group of chronic, complex disorders (bipolar I disorder and bipolar II disorder) that can reduce both quality of life and life expectancy. In this article, I examine eight of the most widespread misconceptions and compare them with the scientific evidence. Myth 1: “Bipolar disorder is rare” It is often said that bipolar disorder is an uncommon condition. In reality, epidemiological estimates indicate a lifetime global prevalence of 0.6–1.0% for bipolar I disorder and 0.4–1.1% for bipolar II. To put this in perspective, approximately one million people in Italy live with bipolar disorder. ...