Bipolar Disorder in Old Age

ABSTRACT

Bipolar disorder in old age is a growing public health problem. We reviewed the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, course, cormobidity, and treatment of bipolar disorder in old age with special focus on comparing with younger patients. Most available date is gleaned from retrospective chart reviews and cohort studies. Many of these reviews have been targeted toward the clinician, and they have relied heavily on extrapolating data from other psychiatric disorders in late life or younger people with bipolar disorder. But, at present, there are more gaps in empirical knowledge than there answer, and greater research on bipolar disorder in older people will assist in enhancing services to this group as well as inform research on bipolar disorder across the life span.