Last Reviewed May 28, 2009
Symptoms & Characteristics
Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness characterized by dramatic mood swings. Affected people may swing from an up feeling (called mania) to a down feeling (called depression) and then back again. Normal moods are present in between.
Symptoms usually begin in a person's late teens to early adulthood. If left untreated, bipolar disorder can ruin relationships, affect job and academic performances, and even result in suicide.
Treatment
Treatment for bipolar disease may include medications, psychological therapy, or a combination of both.
If someone notices or experiences any of the signs or symptoms common to bipolar disorder, it is important to see a doctor immediately.
How Common Is It?
More than 2 million Americans are believed to be affected with bipolar disorder.
Genetics & Inheritance
The causes of bipolar disorder are largely unknown. Bipolar disorder is most likely a multifactorial condition, which means it involves a combination of genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors.
It is currently well established that bipolar disease also runs in some families. Researchers believe that there are probably a number of genes that contribute to the development of bipolar disorder as well as affect a person's response to certain bipolar disorder medications.
Current research is examining a number of candidate genes and chromosome regions that may influence bipolar disorder risk.
- Variations in at least 7 genes have been associated with bipolar disorder and susceptibility to bipolar disorder in some families, but no one gene has been strongly associated.
Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are small variations in a single "letter" of DNA that can be found throughout our entire genetic make-up. Some researchers have proposed that specific SNPs may influence the risk to develop bipolar disorder in some people.
- How these SNPs contribute to bipolar disorder is unclear, and much of this research is considered preliminary at this point.
- Research is currently often limited to specific ethnic groups. As such, further research is needed to replicate study findings across different ethnic groups and clearly establish associations.
Other yet to be identified or adequately classified genes may also contribute to bipolar disorder.
The estimated recurrence risk for mental illness in a family depends on many factors. These factors may include the number of affected people in the family, the degree of relationship (close, distant) of the affected relatives, as well as the type(s) of mental illness.
Genetic Testing
Clinical genetic testing for susceptibility to bipolar disorder is currently unavailable. Research testing may be available for people who are considered at risk. A genetic consultation with a trained genetic professional is important for a complete evaluation, accurate diagnosis, as well as discussion of the benefits and limitations of testing and recurrence risk. Use our find a genetic professional directory to locate a trained
genetic professional in your area.
Informational genetic testing for susceptibility to bipolar disease is available online (over the internet) as part of a whole genome scan. Whole genome scanning involves analyzing thousands of SNPs at once related to a number of different health conditions.
Informational genetic testing for susceptibility to bipolar disease is also available online (over the internet)
for people who believe they are experiencing symptoms of bipolar disorder or who already have a diagnosis. This testing includes SNPs that have been proposed to influence both a person's susceptibility to bipolar disorder as well as response to serotonin-based medications commonly used to treat bipolar disorder.
- Regarding most informational genetic testing, further research is needed to clearly establish associations. At this point, many genetic professionals do not consider this testing clinically useful or medically relevant, but for informational purposes only. Go to the Tests tab to link to the best providers, compare providers and read provider reviews.
Support & More Information
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Alternative Names
- manic depressive disorder
- manic depression
- bipolar affective disorder