What is bipolar I disorder?

Bipolar I disorder is a mood disorder that is characterized by at least one manic or mixed episode. There may be episodes of hypomania or major depression as well. It is considered a sub-diagnosis of bipolar disorder, and conforms to the classic concept of manic-depressive illness.

How do members experience bipolar I disorder?

Top 5 symptoms reported by people with bipolar I disorder*

*Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.

Top treatments taken by people for bipolar I disorder*

*Data from patients with bipolar I disorder, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Compare treatments taken by people with bipolar I disorder*

Treatment
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment

(Lithium Carbonate ER)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
bipolar I disorder (12)
Treatment

(Lamictal)
Perceived effectiveness
for bipolar I disorder (4 evaluations)
Side effects
Total evaluations
5
Tried for
bipolar I disorder (11)
Treatment

(Depakote)
Perceived effectiveness
for bipolar I disorder (1 evaluation)
Side effects
numbness and tingling in hands rashes (redness, swelling)
Total evaluations
1
Tried for
bipolar I disorder (6)
Treatment

(Talk therapy)
Perceived effectiveness
for bipolar I disorder (1 evaluation)
Side effects
Total evaluations
1
Tried for
bipolar I disorder (2)
Treatment

(Trileptal)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
bipolar I disorder (2)

*Data from patients with bipolar I disorder, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Who has bipolar I disorder on PatientsLikeMe?

Age

Age Proportion # of patients
<20 21
20s 290
30s 1,094
40s 1,845
50s 1,951
60s 1,268
70+ 350

Distribution of sex

Sex

Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 1,333
Female 5,421

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What is bipolar I disorder?

Bipolar I disorder is a mood disorder that is characterized by at least one manic or mixed episode. There may be episodes of hypomania or major depression as well. It is considered a sub-diagnosis of bipolar disorder, and conforms to the classic concept of manic-depressive illness.



Common symptoms reported by people with bipolar I disorder

Common symptoms
How bad it is
What people are taking for it

Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.
Last updated:



Treatments taken by people for bipolar I disorder

Treatment name(s)
Type
How many have tried
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Lithium Carbonate ER)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
2,346
Tried for
bipolar I disorder (12)
Treatment name(s)

(Lamictal)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
2,359
Tried for
bipolar I disorder (11)
Treatment name(s)

(Depakote)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
500
Tried for
bipolar I disorder (6)
Treatment name(s)

(Talk therapy)
Type
Psychotherapy
How many have tried
3,532
Tried for
bipolar I disorder (2)
Treatment name(s)

(Trileptal)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
201
Tried for
bipolar I disorder (2)

Data from patients with bipolar I disorder, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.
Last updated:


Compare treatments taken by people with bipolar I disorder

Treatment name(s)
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Lithium Carbonate ER)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
bipolar I disorder (12)
Treatment name(s)

(Lamictal)
Perceived effectiveness
for bipolar I disorder (4 evaluations)
Side effects
Total evaluations
5
Tried for
bipolar I disorder (11)
Treatment name(s)

(Depakote)
Perceived effectiveness
for bipolar I disorder (1 evaluation)
Side effects
numbness and tingling in hands rashes (redness, swelling)
Total evaluations
1
Tried for
bipolar I disorder (6)
Treatment name(s)

(Talk therapy)
Perceived effectiveness
for bipolar I disorder (1 evaluation)
Side effects
Total evaluations
1
Tried for
bipolar I disorder (2)
Treatment name(s)

(Trileptal)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
bipolar I disorder (2)
  • Major
  • Moderate
  • Slight
  • None
  • Can't tell
  • Severe
  • Moderate
  • Mild
  • None

Data from patients with bipolar I disorder, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.
Last updated:



Who has bipolar I disorder on PatientsLikeMe?

  • 17 new patients joined this month
  • 4,707 say bipolar I disorder is their primary condition

Age
Age Proportion # of patients
<20 21
20s 290
30s 1,094
40s 1,845
50s 1,951
60s 1,268
70+ 350
Age at first symptom
Age at first symptom Proportion # of patients
0-19 years 1,613
20-29 years 706
30-39 years 415
40-49 years 190
50-59 years 51
60-69 years 8
70+ years 2

Distribution of sex

Sex
Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 1,333
Female 5,421

Diagnosis status
Diagnosis status Proportion # of patients
Diagnosed 3,643
Not Diagnosed 241

These charts show data from bipolar I disorder patients who have completed their condition history
Last updated: