More or Less Maddy: A Novel

Bipolar I disorder is a mental health condition that lasts throughout a person’s life but responds well to medical treatments and therapy. It is distinguished from the related bipolar II disorder by the presence of at least one full manic episode, often requiring hospitalization. Manic episodes are sometimes interspersed with episodes of depression. A manic episode is defined by high energy, high impulsivity, and strong emotional states. A depressive episode is the opposite, and a person in this state typically has little energy or motivation, and their emotions often become numbed. Bipolar I disorder is fairly common, as it affects about 1-2% of the adult population, with DSM‑5 lifetime prevalence estimates of around 2.1% (Blanco, Carlos, et al. “Epidemiology of DSM-5 Bipolar I Disorder: Results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions—III.” Journal of Psychiatric Research, vol. 84, 2016, pp. 310-17). Although it was historically considered to affect men and women equally, more recent large-scale studies suggest a female predominance, with 57-65% of diagnosed cases being women (Dell’Osso, Bernardo, et al. “Has Bipolar Disorder Become a Predominantly Female Gender Related Condition? Analysis of Recently Published Large Sample Studies.