J Affect Disord. 2025 Oct 17:120463. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2025.120463. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: To evaluate the burden of bipolar disorder (BD) in adolescents and young adults at global, regional and national levels from 1990 to 2021.
METHODS: This study updated the assessment incidence, prevalence and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) of BD in adolescents and young adults from 1990 to 2021 using the Global Burden of Disease 2021 data, assessing them at regional, national, and socio-demographic index (SDI) levels. We estimated the effect and trends of sex and age. In addition, we assessed data by frontier analysis and Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) model for 2040 projections.
RESULTS: In 2021, the global age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR), age- standardized prevalence rate (ASPR), and age-standardized DALY rate (ASDR) for BD in adolescents and young adults were respectively 47.56, 530.35 and 116.40 per 100,000 population. ASIR peaked at 15 to 19 years of age. ASPR and ASDR were highest at 25 to 29 years of age. Females had a higher burden. Australasia had the highest rates, East Asia the lowest. Southern Latin America declined fastest. Among countries, New Zealand had the highest rates and Italy had the fastest growth. The burden of BD was highest in the High SDI region and lowest in the high-middle SDI region, which also showed a declining trend. The middle SDI region has experienced the fastest growth. Based on estimates from the BAPC model, the number of cases and age-standardized rates of BD in adolescents and young adults is expected to continue to grow in the future.
CONCLUSIONS: The global burden of BD in adolescents and young adults increased between 1990 and 2021 and showed differences in age, sex, region and SDI. This data will help to target effective public health strategies and improve mental health services.
PMID:41110665 | DOI:10.1016/j.jad.2025.120463
