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In 2019, bipolar disorder affected about Italians out of 100,000, a slight increase compared to 2010. The disease was mainly prevalent among individuals aged 55 to 64 years old and was more common among women than men. In 2021, bipolar disorder was the fourth most common cause of hospitalization for patients admitted to mental health facilities, and the fifth most common cause if only male patients were considered.

Definition, risk factors and therapies

The National Institute of Mental Health defines bipolar disorder as a manic-depressive illness that causes shifts in mood, energy and activity levels, altering the ability to carry out daily tasks. The causes of this mental condition are momentarily not well defined, even though a combination of brain structure, genetics, and family history may impact the onset of the disease. Bipolar disorder is usually treated using mood stabilizers such as lithium, and in Italy, the public expenditure on lithium medication amounted to roughly *** million euros in 2023. Sardinia was the region with the greatest rate of adults taking lithium.   

The stigma around mental illness

Bipolar disorder is difficult to diagnose due to comorbidity with other mental conditions and volatility of the symptoms. Moreover, the feeling of shame that unfortunately still surrounds people dealing with mental health disorders does not make it easy to ask for a specialist’s consultation. Between 2020 and 2021, almost ** percent of individuals suffering from depression in Italy declared that they sought help.