Care for bipolar disorder in LMICs needs evidence from local settings

2and nearly 100% in most low-income countries if prophylactic rather than acute-phase treatment is considered. Bipolar disorder is at risk of being left further behind as integrated mental health care is scaled up worldwide. One reason is the absence of data: the psychopathology, incidence, prevalence, and course of bipolar disorder are poorly described in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Another reason is a misplaced emphasis on evidencebased treatments in the absence of contextualised evidence.