Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that causes debilitating alternating periods of depression and mania. It affects energy, mood, cognition, sleep, family stability and work relations. The National Alliance for Mental Illness states that approximately 10 million Americans suffer from bipolar disorder, and that it affects an equal number of men and women; however, there are significant gender differences regarding disease severity, symptoms and age of onset.
Menopause
Bipolar disorder can increase in severity with age due to hormonal imbalances. Hormones play a significant role in regulating mental health. Excessive testosterone is associated with increased criminality in men, while with women, decreased estrogen levels affect mood, depression and energy levels. In the May 2009 issue of the "Journal of Psychiatric Research," Dr. Wendy Marsh and associates found that menopausal transition women experienced significantly more depressive mental health clinic visits compared to men of the same age. Dr. Marsh also found that menopausal women experienced more depressive clinic visits compared to younger women and younger men.
Symptoms
Bipolar disorder also affects men and women differently in terms of how their symptoms manifest. Gender differences may be impacted by the sex hormones testosterone and estrogen. Gender-specific differences may involve substance abuse, promiscuity, eating disorders and conduct disorders. In the April 2005 issue of "Bipolar Disorder," Dr. Izabela Kawa and associates found that bipolar men are significantly more likely to abuse alcohol and marijuana, and engage in pathological gambling and conduct disorder. The study also reported that bipolar women were more likely to have eating disorders, as well as experience weight and appetite changes and insomnia.
Age of Onset
Gender also affects the age of onset and diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Bipolar is often misdiagnosed as clinicians may gravitate towards diagnosing children with attention disorders and conduct disorders instead. The depressive and manic states that characterize bipolar disorder can often show up in the diagnostic criteria for more common childhood-related disorders. The proper diagnosis of a child or adolescent with bipolar is essential in order to determine the types of medication that will best treat the condition.
Even with proper diagnoses, gender seems to play a role in when bipolar first manifests in men and women. In the February 2005 issue of the "American Journal of Psychiatry," Dr. Noel Kennedy and associates found that men had a significantly earlier onset of first episode mania, with childhood conduct disorder having a strong relationship. Hormones may be a factor in triggering bipolar disorder, as some women experience first episode symptoms during and after their first pregnancy.
References
- National Alliance For Mental Illness: Bipolar Disorder
- Patient Health International: Bipolar and the Menopause: Relationship Between Female Hormonal Level and Mood
- "Journal of Psychiatric Research": Increased Depressive Symptoms in Menopausal Age Women With Bipolar Disorder: Age and Gender Comparison; Wendy Marsh; May 2009
- "Bipolar Disorder"; Gender Differences in Bipolar Disorder: Age of Onset, Course, Comorbidity, and Symptom Presentation; Dr. Izabela Kawa; April 2005
- "American Journal of Psychiatry": Gender Differences in Incidence and Age at Onset of Mania and Bipolar Disorder Over a 35-Year Period in Camberwell, England
