Bipolar disorder in australia: the 2007 national survey of mental health and well-being

  • Philip Mitchell, University of New South Wales; Black Dog Institute; and National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, Australia
  • Amy Johnston, University of New South Wales; Black Dog Institute; and National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, Australia
  • Timothy Slade, University of New South Wales; Black Dog Institute; and National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, Australia
  • Dusan Hadzi-Pavlovic, University of New South Wales; Black Dog Institute; and National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, Australia
  • Andrew Frankland, University of New South Wales; Black Dog Institute; and National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, Australia
  • Gloria Roberts, University of New South Wales; Black Dog Institute; and National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, Australia
  • Justine Corry, University of New South Wales; Black Dog Institute; and National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, Australia

    • There have been few reports internationally focusing on bipolar disorder in national epidemiological surveys, and only one in Australia (Mitchell et al, 2004) which reported on findings from the first National Survey of Mental Health and Well-being. The second Australian national survey was undertaken in 2007, with summary papers recently being published (Henderson et al, 2009; Slade et al, 2009). This comprised a national face-to-face household survey of 8,841 (60% response rate) community residents aged between 16 and 85 years and was carried out using the World Mental Health Survey Initiative version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. For bipolar disorder, the 12-month prevalence rates were: Bipolar I disorder (BPI) 0.5%, Bipolar II disorder (BPII) 0.4%, total BPI/BPII 0.9%. Lifetime prevalence rates were BPI 0.7%, BPII 0.6% and total 1.3%. Those with bipolar disorder were significantly more likely to have experienced disrupted relationships, to be unemployed, to be in the lowest income stratum, and to be living alone. There were high rates of comorbidity with both substance use and anxiety disorders. Comparisons with major depressive disorder and details of health service utilisation, disability and physical health comorbidity will be presented. Methodological issues in the re-calibration of the diagnosis of mania and hypomania in the World Mental Health Survey will be discussed.