1

The clipped image prsents the population of Pakistan (%) suffering from bipolar/ prevalence, in

2017.

Sex 1990 2017 Relative change

Share of males 0.57% 0.58% +02%
Share of females 0.56% 0.57% +01%

{https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/share-with-bipolar-disorder?

tab=table&time=2010.2017&country=~PAK&region=Asia}

1
Global Burden of Disease Collaborative Network. Global Burden of Disease Study 2017 (GBD 2017) Results.
Seattle, United States: Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), 2018.
 Researches on Bipolar disorder in Pakistan

1.Prevalence of vulnerability for bipolar spectrum disorder among

students of Pakistan.

Sample:

This cross sectional survey was conducted in different undergraduate and postgraduate institutes

of Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.

Administrators:

 Shumaila Muhammad Iqbal

 Raza-Ur-Rahman

 Muhammad Saad

 Jamal Farid

 Sadia Zafa

Conclusions:

On screening of students included in study (624) the vulnerability for BSD was positive

in 89 students (14.3%). Among the 89 students who were screened positive, 39 students were

males (43.8%) and 50 were females (56.2%). The vulnerability for BSD was most common in

student group of 20-21 year old. The family history of psychiatric illness was found to be

positive in 39 students (43.8%). The diagnosis of bipolar disorders was also made by consultant
psychiatrist in 28 (31.5%) students. The estimated rate of prevalence for bipolar spectrum

disorder among students of Pakistan is 14.3%.2

However the age group of 20-21yearswas the most affected one. Genetic influence was

found to have an impact on the prevalence rate.

2
{https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281289421_Prevalence_of_vulnerability_for_bipolar_spectrum_disorde
r_among_students_of_Pakistan#:~:text=The%20diagnosis%20of%20b}
The prevalence of bipolar spectrum disorder in medical students of

Pakistan

Sample:

A questionnaire based study was done on 298 medical students of Nishtar Medical

University, Multan and Shaikh Zayed Medical College, Rahim Yar Khan.

Administrators:

 Muhammad Hassaan Ali

 Hamza Maqsood

 Muhammad Hassan Jalil

 Hafiz Farhan Shoukat

 Hassan Abdullah Shakeel

Conclusions:

According to mood disorder questionnaire scoring, 80 (26.84%) of the total 298 students

were screened positive for bipolar spectrum disorder (BSD). Among 80 students who screened

positive for BSD 43 (53.75%) are males while 37 (46.25%) are females. Class-wise distribution

of BSD is as follows: Out of 80 students screened positive 15 (18.75%) are from 2nd year, 22

(27.5%) from 3rd year and 43 (53.75) from 4th year. Age-wise distribution of BSD is as

following: Students of age 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23 years suffering from BSD were 5 (6.25%), 17
(21.25%), 23(28.75),22 (27.5%) and 13 (16.25%) respectively. the estimated rate of prevalence

for bipolar spectrum disorder among medical students of Pakistan is 26.84%.3

Other types of bipolar disorder in Pakistan:

As we know Pakistan is lagging in Research area, that’s why bipolar disorder types like

medicine/substance induced bipolar and other characterized in DSM-V, are not reported in

Pakistan. Even the researches on three main types are equal to none. So prevalence percentages

specifically of medicine/substance induced bipolar disorder are not available, as no researches

were conducted.

The psychologist to client ratio

The psychologist to client ratio in Pakistan is 0.7 to 1Lac.4 But the psychologist with

expertise in bipolar disorder to client ratio has never been calculated in Pakistan.

According to reports from the Indian Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare,

the country needs around 13,000 mental health professionals. But reality is even more fearful

because they have total 3500 mental health professionals and only one 01 psychologist to every

2 Lac population.

173 Million People living in China are suffering from Mental illness but it is considered

as a taboo in China to seek treatment. Chinese society is still evolving and still there is no

mentioned psychologist to client ratio on internet.

3
{https://dx.doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20191647}
4
{ https://www.who.int/mental_health/pakistan_who_aims_report.pdf}
 The United States is home to some 5.7 million adults with bipolar disorder — and far too

few of them receive care from psychologists, many experts say. Most health-care professionals

think of bipolar disorder as an illness solely in need of prescription medicine. But over the last

decade, research has shown that psychosocial therapy is an effective treatment for the disease

when combined with mood-stabilizing medications. Many people with bipolar disorder take

antidepressants in addition to mood stabilizers, although two large studies have suggested

antidepressants may not be effective for treating bipolar depression. But medication isn't the only

solution, psychosocial treatment deserves much more attention.

Conclusion:

We think the reason behind less reported cases in all across South Asian countries

especially Pakistan are because we labialize all Bipolar patients as “Pagals” and we prefer

religious rituals on psychotherapy and medicine, in return we seek help late. 5 That’s why people

are tend to hide affected persons from society.

So, we need to understand that psychologists have an important part to play, which is to

help a patients to recover from the distress of depressive or manic episodes. These episodes are

associated with damage to the family or the marriage, work problems, problems getting back to

school, functioning at home or functioning as a parent. In all these situations, therapy can help

5
Being bipolar in Pakistan- Dawn.com
validate what people are going through, while encouraging them to consider solutions that help

them to move forward. So every country needs psychologist who have expertise in bipolar

disorders to help the clients to deal with mental disorders.