Bipolar disorder is a chronic affective disorder that results in substantial impairments. According to the World Health Organization, bipolar disorder is ranked sixth among all medical disorders in years of lost life due to death or disability,(1) and it has been consistently rated among the top causes of disability adjusted life years for 15–44 year olds in developed countries.(2) Individuals with bipolar disorder generally experience a chronic, recurrent course of illness that increases their risk of lifelong disability and greatly impacts their lives and the lives of their families.(3)
