title: Bipolar disorders in the Arab world: a critical review.
abstract: Bipolar disorders are common psychiatric disorders that affect 1-5% of the population worldwide. Major advances in the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of the disorders have recently occurred. The majority of published reports, however, originate from the Western hemisphere, mostly Europe and the United States. There is a shortage of data from the Arab world on bipolar disorders. In an era of globalization and rapid communication, it is not clear to what extent research findings pertaining to one part of the world are by necessity applicable to other parts. Psychiatric disorders are known to be affected by the culture in which they occur, and knowledge of variations in illness presentation in different ethnic groups is also increasing. However, knowledge of variations affecting Arab populations remains quite limited. This paper provides a critical review of the literature on bipolar affective disorders in the Arab world, pointing to major gaps in knowledge and future opportunities to fill these gaps.
authors: Department of Medical Education, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Doha, Qatar.|Department of Psychiatry, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.|Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors: Ziad
authors: Z
authors: Kronfol
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
authors: Mostafa
authors: M
authors: Zakaria Khalil
authors: Department of Medical Education, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Doha, Qatar.
authors: Pankaj
authors: P
authors: Kumar
authors: Department of Medical Education, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Doha, Qatar.
authors: Karsten
authors: K
authors: Suhre
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of Balamand, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors: Elie
authors: E
authors: Karam
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors: Melvin
authors: M
authors: McInnis
mesh_terms: D018643:Arab World; D018912:Arabs / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007861:Lebanon / Q000453:epidemiology; D008877:Middle East / Q000453:epidemiology; D011780:Qatar / Q000453:epidemiology; D012944:Social Support
keywords: Arab world; Lebanon; Qatar; bipolar disorder; review