Early diagnosis critical in bipolar disorder treatment
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More than a million Thais have bipolar disorder - which can be treated if diagnosed accurately at an early stage, a Bangkok seminar was told yesterday.
Bipolar disorder takes a long time to diagnose accurately, said Prof Dr Phichet Udomrat, the chair of the Asian Network of Bipolar Disorder.
Nearly 70 per cent of the cases around the world are misdiagnosed as depression or other mental diseases, resulting in the disorder becoming too advanced to be cured, he added.
Around 27 million people globally have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and the number is growing.
Bipolar disorder is mostly linked to genetics, but upbringing, stimulation and surroundings also play major roles in its development, said Dr Phichai Itthasakul, a Ramathibodi Hospital psychiatrist speaking at the seminar.
