Why is bipolar so popular? It seems so common?

It does seem to get diagnosed more often.

I think it might have to do with more children getting that diagnosis than before.

I'm not a psychiatrist, but I have worked in mental health for a long time. I have a hard time understanding how you can tell the difference between Bipolar and ADHD, especially in a child.

I think a lot of these kids really should have a diagnosis of ADHD and should not get a diagnosis of Bipolar until it is obvious that the ADHD treatment is not helping. However, maybe a lof of those shouldn't even have the diagnosis of ADHD in the first place; it's just parents don't have enough time for time and they are attention seeking.

It's sad, but ADHD was probably already overdiagnosed and now more and more doctors seem to be in a hurry to diagnose Bipolar.

It's scary that little kids are taking medications like Seroquel, Risperidol, Clonidine, Depakote. These are very strong drugs even for adults. I think they should be on common drugs for ADHD like Concerta, Adderal, etc. (If they need to be on anything at all).

(Actually, Bipolar has been the name for it for at least 20 years; I'm not sure when they stopped calling it Manic Depressive, but it was clearly more than 10 years ago.)

There are two reasons why you heard less about it ten years ago. The first one is that it used to be called manic-depression (and many sufferers still prefer that term). The second reason is that doctors seem to have decided that many, many people who were once diagnosed with other conditions or nothing could now be brought under the umbrella of bipolar. Lying behind this change is the fact that the pharmaceuticals companies have brought out lots of drugs which they claim can help with various newly-invented variations of bipolar disorder.........

it is not a hoax. it is a debilitating condition that is very hard, even impossible, to control without proper medication. it has two complete different parts, hence the bi part, that make people seem like polar opposites.

when people are in the depressed stage, it can last for months at a time. when they are in the manic stage the same. this is when they think they can go off their meds because they feel like they are on cloud nine all the time.

this is not a condition to take lightly.

Bipolar is out of the closet now. That is why you're hearing so much about it. Once upon a time, depression was hushed and no one spoke of it. Now, no one bats an eye when they hear someone has depression. The same process is happening now with bipolar disorder.

My mom is Bipolor and i grew up knowing that..... but as far as where you are hearing it.... alot in the tabloids, or when a crazy lady kills her kids or husband, or whoever, it tends to be a cop out.... basically people are abusing the disorder, and using it as an excuse.... my mom has hers undercontrol, and has not had to take medication for the past 2 years.... people are using it as an excuse for their actions or behavior.... and it irriates me because there are pleny of people with this disoreder that are perfectly fine, and have it undercontrol....

I don't know that it is more prevelant than it used to be, but it is definitely more acceptable to talk about and far more diagnosed.

It is an effete new wave cop out. Helps people explain bad behavior.

basically, because it's a new name.... it used to be manic depression