Bipolar disorder is one of the world's most disabling conditions, robbing sufferers of years of healthy functioning. The presence of bipolar disorder is not limited to any nation, race, age, gender, or socioeconomic status, and has a lifetime prevalence of 1% across all populations. While there do not appear to be disparities in who is at risk for bipolar disorder, there are marked disparities in who is likely to be diagnosed and treated. The average person with bipolar disorder waits ten years before receiving the correct diagnosis (National Depression and Manic-Depression Association, 2000). Once a diagnosis of bipolar disorder is made, there are equally marked disparities in treatment outcome.