Bipolar disorder can it be inherited

This event could be a high-stress occurrence related to work or personal life. A sudden, major life change, such as the death of a loved one or a physical injury, could also trigger the onset. People who have bipolar disorder typically find it helpful to control stress in their lives. Seasonal factors may trigger the onset of bipolar disorder episodes.

The change from winter to spring, in particular, is a strong trigger. This is because the quick increase in the number of hours of bright sunshine during the day affects the pineal gland. This, in turn, may influence development of depression and mania. Other triggers can include heavy drug or alcohol use and a lack of sleep. And in certain cases, bipolar disorder in women can be triggered during the period after giving birth.

This generally occurs in women who are biologically inclined to developing it in the first place. The type of bipolar disorder a person has determines the symptoms they will experience.

In general, the main symptoms of the different types of bipolar disorder are mania and depression. The symptoms of bipolar depression are similar to the symptoms of regular depression. They include:. The average age when bipolar disorder develops is about 25 years. Bipolar disorder can start at any age, though. Some people experience their first symptoms as a child. Others have the first symptoms later in their adult life. Getting a proper diagnosis can take years. This is because people may mistake it for another disorder, or may not report their symptoms.

Treatment typically involves medication , behavioral therapy, or a combination of the two. Several drugs effectively treat bipolar disorder. The one with the strongest evidence is lithium. Lithium has also been associated with a decrease in suicides. Effective forms of counseling include psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy , and peer support.

Other potential treatments include:. If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call The age of onset of bipolar disorder is often younger for those children who have parents or grandparents with a more severe bipolar disorder. When bipolar disorder runs in families it begs the question: Is the increase in risk related to genetics specific gene combinations or the environment who we are, including our early childhood experiences, how we were raised, our social relationships, and our surrounding culture.

It appears that both mechanisms are probably at play and contribute to the causation of bipolar disorder. Epigenetics, the study of whether, how, and when genes are expressed, explains that certain environmental factors determine the expression of genes or even turn certain genes on or off in the next generation.

Though it runs in families, it is harder to define specific genetic risk factors. Studies looking at the genetics of bipolar disorder have failed to find a single gene which is causative for example, as is the case with cystic fibrosis. Rather, it appears that there are several chromosomal regions with many genes polygenic each of which has a small effect in raising the susceptibility to the disorder.

In addition, the majority of people with these "at-risk alleles" do not have bipolar disorder. A separate issue that has been noted with our newer understanding of genetics is that genetics may play a role in how a person responds to medications for bipolar disorder.

For example, those with two inactive copies of the CYP gene may be poor metabolizers of drugs such as risperidone and aripiprazole.

As noted above, how much a person responds to drugs such as lithium may run in the family. In looking at genetic susceptibility, it has been noted that there is overlap between gene variations noted with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia , schizoaffective disorder , and depression. Knowing that there is an increased risk of bipolar disorder in children of those with bipolar disorder, should parents with the disorder have children? This is a question that doesn't have a right or wrong answer.

There are many medical conditions that may have a hereditary aspect. In addition, there is not a single gene or gene sequence that "guarantees" a child will develop bipolar disorder. It's important to note that nothing says that having a child who does develop a mental health disorder will not be a wonderfully fulfilling experience.

Individuals must decide for themselves that is best for them and their family. Knowing you have a family history, however, can be very helpful in monitoring your child should they exhibit any signs or symptoms in order to recognize the condition before an episode of mania is occurring.

It seems clear that there is a genetic role in the development of bipolar disorder, but this role appears to be polygenic controlled a little bit by many different genes and very complex. In other words, there is not a single or even several gene variations that cause bipolar disorder, rather, a diverse combination of genes which may increase a person's susceptibility to developing bipolar disorder.

A family history of the disorder is not a reason to put off becoming a parent. You may wish to learn about the red flags for bipolar disorder in children, and the different forms of the disorder. Bipolar disorder can run in families, so many experts believe that genes play a role in its development. Some environmental factors also play a role in triggering its symptoms. The National Institute of Mental Health estimate that 2.

They also say that 4. In this article, we look at the genetic and nongenetic factors that may cause bipolar disorder, as well as some potential treatments for the condition. People are more likely to develop bipolar disorder if they have a close relative with the condition. Individuals are also more likely to develop bipolar disorder if they have another mental health condition, such as depression or schizophrenia.

Some research suggests that the lifetime risk of bipolar disorder in relatives of someone with the condition is 5—10 percent for a close relative and 40—70 percent for a twin. The exact way that this occurs remains unclear. It is likely that just having a genetic predisposition to the disorder is not enough to trigger its development.

Environmental factors may also be necessary to trigger symptoms in people with the relevant gene variations. It is also important to note that just because someone has a greater chance of having bipolar disorder, it does not mean that they will go on to develop it. Research suggests that the majority of people with a genetic predisposition are healthy, and most people with a relative who has bipolar disorder do not have the condition themselves.

Along with genetics, there are some environmental factors that appear to play a part in triggering bipolar disorder in susceptible people. These include:. However, the occurrence, duration, and intensity of the symptoms can determine which subtype a person has. Around 50 percent of people with bipolar disorder also experience symptoms of psychosis , such as hallucinations and delusions. These cause people to imagine things that are not happening, or to maintain false beliefs.