Contrasted Research: Is Bipolar Disorder Heredity?

Men and women of all ages, races, ethnic groups and social classes equally suffer from bipolar disorders. Bipolar disorder affects approximately 5.7 million adult Americans. According to The National Bipolar Foundation, up to one-third of the 3.4 million children and adolescents with depression in the U.S. may be experiencing the early onset of bipolar disorder.

Facts

• More than two-thirds of bipolar sufferers have at least one close relative who suffers from the disorder or major depression. However, Greg Simon, MD, a psychiatrist and researcher at Group Health Cooperative in Seattle, states that the genetic link does not necessarily mean that one bipolar parent or even two will produce a bipolar child.

Genetics vs. Environment

• Genetics contribute up to 80 percent of the development of bipolar disorder and the remaining 20 percent is due to environmental agents and events.

Statistics

• According to psychcentral.com, someone may have a genetic vulnerability to the development of bipolar, but that does not condemn the person to eventually developing it.

Symptoms

• Bipolar disorder symptoms include depression, feelings of hopelessness, suicidal thoughts, altered sleep patterns and loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyable.

Types

• There are two main types of bipolar disorders: Bipolar I and Bipolar II disorders.