Bipolar II disorder in rural New South Wales

This study, published recently in Australasian Psychiatry, aimed to determine the frequency with which bipolar II disorder was diagnosed in clinics held in four rural towns in New South Wales over a period of two years and nine months.  
Of 559 patients seen for the first time during the study period, 20% were diagnosed with BD II, and this diagnosis was made for the first time in 61% of these.  The authors concluded that 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.
Robertson A, Moore G, Boyce P (2012). Australasian Psychiatry, doi: 10.1177/1039856212437900.  The article is available in full-text via CIAP, or contact your health library.