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Mind and Body
Women with Bipolar Disorder
Edited by David H. Fram, MD
on September 1, 2006		 Reviewed by the doctors at The Cleveland Clinic Department of Psychiatry
and Psychology
Women with Bipolar DisorderResearch shows that women tend to experience more periods of depression than men. Women are more likely to develop bipolar II disorder—meaning they never develop severe mania, but instead have milder episodes of hypomania that alternate with depression.

Women are also at higher risk for rapid cycling, which means having four or more episodes in one year. Varying levels of sex hormones and activity of the thyroid gland in the neck—together with the tendency to be prescribed antidepressants—may contribute to rapid cycling, researchers believe.

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WebMD Medical Reference provided in collaboration with The Cleveland Clinic.

SOURCES: WebMD Medical Reference with The Cleveland Clinic: "Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depressive Disorder)." WebMD Assess Plus: Bipolar Disorder Assessment. National Institute for Mental Health: "Step-BD Womens Studies." Massachusetts General Hospital Bipolar Clinic & Research Program. MedicineNet.com: "Bipolar Disorder (Mania)." WebMD Medical Reference with The Cleveland Clinic: "Effects of Untreated Depression." American Psychiatric Association: "Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Bipolar Disorder."

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