The Burden of Bipolar Disorder in Europe
Author Information
Author(s): Fajutrao Liberty, Locklear Julie, Priaulx Jennifer, Heyes Anne
Primary Institution: AstraZeneca R&D, Södertälje, Sweden
Hypothesis
What is the epidemiological, clinical, and economic burden of bipolar disorder in Europe?
Conclusion
Bipolar disorder is a major and underestimated health problem in Europe, significantly impacting economic burden due to comorbidities, suicide, and unemployment.
Supporting Evidence
- Data from the UK, Germany, and Italy indicated a prevalence of bipolar disorder of ~1%.
- A misdiagnosis rate of 70% was reported from Spain.
- Attempted suicide rates varied between 21%–54%.
- In the UK, the estimated rate of premature mortality of patients with bipolar I disorder was 18%.
- 70% of patients in Germany were underemployed, and 72% received disability payments.
- The estimated UK national cost of bipolar disorder was £4.59 billion.
Takeaway
Bipolar disorder affects about 1% of people in Europe, and it costs a lot of money because many people with it struggle to work and often need hospital care.
Methodology
A systematic review of publications from the last 10 years relating to the burden of bipolar disorder, including studies on epidemiology, patient-related issues, and costs.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the focus on electronic databases and language selection criteria.
Limitations
The review is limited by the scarcity of data and methodological challenges in the studies included.
Participant Demographics
The review included studies from various European countries, primarily focusing on general populations.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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