title: Bipolar II disorder in rural New South Wales.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the frequency with which bipolar II disorder (BD II) was diagnosed in clinics held in four rural towns in New South Wales (NSW).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective case file audit was conducted for patients referred for psychiatric assessment and treatment in four towns in rural NSW over a period of two years and nine months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 559 patients seen for the first time during the study period, 113 (20.2%) were diagnosed with BD II, and of these this diagnosis was made for the first time in 69 patients (61%). Associated clinical findings in BD II patients are presented and a comparison is made with patients with non-bipolar depression seen during the same period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BD II was commonly seen in these rural clinics, and appears to be often under-diagnosed in general practice, as has been found to be the case in urban centres. This is seen as a serious public health problem, which needs to be addressed by educational steps directed at general practitioners (GPs), mental health clinicians, and perhaps also the general public.
authors.affiliation: Westmead Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia. armprobbo7@ausi.com
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: de Moore
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boyce
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*