Is bipolar disease hereditary?

Question

I just want to know if there is any chance I could get or have the bipolar disorder.

Answer 1

From the National Institute of Mental Health:
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/

What Causes Bipolar Disorder?
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/bipolar.cfm#bp5

Scientists are learning about the possible causes of bipolar disorder through several kinds of studies. Most scientists now agree that there is no single cause for bipolar disorder—rather, many factors act together to produce the illness.

Because bipolar disorder tends to run in families, researchers have been searching for specific genes—the microscopic "building blocks" of DNA inside all cells that influence how the body and mind work and grow—passed down through generations that may increase a person's chance of developing the illness. But genes are not the whole story.

Studies of identical twins, who share all the same genes, indicate that both genes and other factors play a role in bipolar disorder. If bipolar disorder were caused ENTIRELY by genes, then the identical twin of someone with the illness would ALWAYS develop the illness, and research has shown that this is NOT the case. But if one twin has bipolar disorder, the other twin is more likely to develop the illness than is another sibling.

In addition, findings from gene research suggest that bipolar disorder, like other mental illnesses, does not occur because of a single gene. It appears likely that many different genes act together, and in combination with other factors of the person or the person's environment, to cause bipolar disorder. Finding these genes, each of which contributes only a small amount toward the vulnerability to bipolar disorder, has been extremely difficult. But scientists expect that the advanced research tools now being used will lead to these discoveries and to new and better treatments for bipolar disorder.

Brain-imaging studies are helping scientists learn what goes wrong in the brain to produce bipolar disorder and other mental illnesses. New brain-imaging techniques allow researchers to take pictures of the living brain at work, to examine its structure and activity, without the need for surgery or other invasive procedures. These techniques include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). There is evidence from imaging studies that the brains of people with bipolar disorder may differ from the brains of healthy individuals. As the differences are more clearly identified and defined through research, scientists will gain a better understanding of the underlying causes of the illness, and eventually may be able to predict which types of treatment will work most effectively.

Answer 2

Studies show that it is hereditary and it is passed from father to daughter and mother to son

But just because your parent has bipolar does not mean you do
it usually hits between the ages of 14 to 35
symptoms
hyperactivity
grandiose ideas
they tend to be the life of the party

having periods of doing every thing starting big projects and then losing all interests in the and spending all there time in bed

being very happy or very angry the anger is more so for teenagers

not sleeping for days on end

very moody
can be noise sensitive can not stand noise even the TV or radio

and just like depression which is a unipolar there are degrees of the symptoms and some people have a very mild form of it and by changing personal habits they can live a normal life

for this illness lack of sleep causes mania and when manic your brain works quicker and this uses up the chemicals and then a depression sets in so prevent the mania or treat it right away and prevent the depression that follows so making sure that you get your rest is the most important thing

But if you think that you may have this illness go to the Dr's right away and get treated

some of the greatest minds in history were bipolar composers inventors and others

hope this helps and take care

Answer 3

Bipolar is a chemical imbalance in the brain that a person is born with, it is not something that you just wake up with one day. My brother's bipolar and he's been that way is whole life even as a child. My aunt, 3 cousins, and my mom's dad also have it. So yes I think it is hereditary. There are meds for it to help deal with the symptoms. My brother take 8 different medications each day/night. My brother was also in prison, does drugs, smokes, a high school drop out, has a rap sheet a mile long, and is a cab driver. That is the best he will ever be is a cab driver.

Answer 4

I've read there are a lot of kids with bipolar who are misdiagnosed as ADHD. The ADHD drugs are stimulants that paradoxically calm down the ADHD, but make bipolar mania worse. So it's pretty important to figure out the two. Bipolar usually comes with depression, and in girls I believe the depression usually hits before the mania in the development of the disorder. Misdiagnosis is a terrible, terrible problem, but what matters more than the right diagnosis is the right treatment, something that really helps.

Answer 5

Bipolar is a chemical imbalance. I have not heard in my years working in MH that it was hereditary.

Answer 6

To be honest, I think bi-polar is not hereditary. everyone feels sad sometime. it has nothing to do w/brain chemicals, just how ur feeling. anyone could say there bi-polar just cuzz there sad.

Answer 7

It is hereditary.

Answer 8

There are some studies that ARE NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS! If you continually answer in this manner or anyone of your family do, you've got it.

Answer 9

yes

Answer 10

http://www.bipolardisorder.com/understanding/causes.jsp?reqNavId=1.8