Prevalence of bipolar spectrum disorder in Korean college students according to the K-MDQ

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of bipolar spectrum disorder (BSD) in the general Korean population. Methods: A sample of college students (n = 1026) was stratified to reflect geographical differences accurately in Korean college students. The Korean version of the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (K-MDQ) was administered and an epidemiological survey carried out between November 2006 and February 2007. BSD was defined as a score of at least seven K-MDQ symptoms that co-occurred and resulted in minimal or more functional impairment. Results: The prevalence of BSD was 18.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 16.2-21.0) in total, being 19.8% (95% CI 16.3-23.2) in men and 17.5% (95% CI 14.2-20.8) in women. The prevalence of BSD was more common in rural dwellers than in urban dwellers (P = 0.008, chi-square test). Univariate and multivariate regression models showed that rural residence was a significant factor associated with BSD. There were significant relationships between BSD and gender, age, and socioeconomic status. Conclusion: The prevalence of BSD found in the present study is higher than that reported by other epidemiological studies in Korea and in international studies.