Hypomania Statistics

As a key aspect of bipolar II disorder, hypomania facts and statistics give a person needed information to fully grasp the condition’s impact.

Hypomania is an elevated mood state characterized by extreme feelings of hyperactivity and elation. Exploring hypomania statistics is extremely helpful because the facts and figures apply to more than the mood episode;hypomania statisticscan also provide information and a better understanding of bipolar II disorder, a subtype ofbipolar disorder.

Prevalence of Hypomania

Hypomaniais a mood episode marked by a group of symptoms linked to bipolar II disorder. Because of this connection, someone who experiences hypomania most likely also has bipolar II disorder. Even though people tend to be more familiar with bipolar I disorder, bipolar II is the more common condition.

Statistics indicate thefollowing prevalencefor bipolar disorders:

• About 5.7 million adults (2.6% of people 18 and over) in the U.S. have a bipolar disorder every year
• The average age of onset for bipolar disorders is 25, but anyone from children and older adults may experience the condition for the first time
• More than 66% of people with bipolar disorder have at least one family member with the condition

According to The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), about 0.3% of the world’s population will have bipolar II disorder during a year, and the 12-month prevalence rate of bipolar II disorder for adults in the U.S. is 0.8%.

To be diagnosed with bipolar II disorder, a person must have experienced at least one hypomanic episode and one depressive episode.

Assessing Hypomania

Bipolar II disorder is very similar to bipolar I disorder, as both conditions trigger periods of depressed episodes. However, bipolar I causes manic episodes, while bipolar II produces hypomanic episodes.

Distinguishing between manic and hypomanic episodes can be difficult for the person experiencing them, as well as their loved ones and mental health providers. Both states involve elevated, expansive or irritable moods with a sharp increase in activity and energy levels.

The key difference between hypomanic and manic episodes is how long they last. While hypomanic episodes typically last between four days and a week, manic episodes last for more than a week, which often leads to more serious consequences.

Based on theDSM-5 hypomania criteria,a person may experience the following while in a hypomanic state:

• Inflated self-esteem
• Lower need or interest in sleeping
• Increased pressure to talk
• Racing thoughts or trouble maintaining focus on one topic
• Distractibility
• Increased desire to complete tasks or assignments
• Strong compulsions to participate in risky behaviors like spending money, having sex or doing drugs

Ahypomania scaleis used to rate each episode as mild, moderate or severe based on the number and intensity of symptoms present.

Hypomania and Co-Occurring Conditions

DSM-5 statistics show that most people with bipolar II disorder will have at least one other mental health condition:

• About 60% of people withbipolar disorderwill havehypomaniaand three or more co-occurring conditions
• 75% experiencehypomania andanxiety
• 37% have hypomania and asubstance use disorder
• 14% of people with bipolar II will have aneating disorderduring their life

Some substances, like stimulants andalcohol,seem to induce hypomania, but drugs are nothypomania triggers. The symptoms cannot stem from substance use.

Hypomania and Suicide

People with bipolar II disorder have an increased risk of suicide. About 32% of people with the condition attempt suicide at least once in their life, according to the DSM-5. About20%of people with bipolar disorder complete suicide. On average, bipolar disorders shorten a person’s life span by more than nine years.

Statistics on Hypomania Treatment and Recovery

With the combination of medication and therapy common inhypomania treatment, therecovery rateis favorable. Lithium, one drug used to treat bipolar, can produce asuccess rate of 50%.

Other aspects of treatment that can improve thebipolar disorder outlookinclude:

• An accurate diagnosis
• Participation in a patient-to-patient support group
• Treatment consistency
• Finding treatment providers who understand the condition

If you have not been able to find the best treatment provider for addiction linked to bipolar II disorder, it may be the right time to call The Recovery Village. The Recovery Village offers professional treatment for people withco-occurringsubstance use disorders and mental health conditions, including bipolar disorder.Reach outtoday for more information.