Is bipolar genetic? If so, then which parent do you get it from, or does it matter?
346082
Yes I'm sorry to say Bipolar is genetic. It doesn't have to be from your parents but from someone down your family tree. If you could look up your parents family trees  you will find it.   I am bipolar 1.  I have been dignosed for several years. At first I spent many months off and on in a mental facility trying to understand what happened to me. Now, I am on medicine which helps a lot. I haven't been hospitalized for almost a year now. If you are having black-out periods  or extreme anger outburst then you need to get some help now.
325168
I don't, but fyi Down's Syndrome is caused by trans-located chromosomes, a.k.a. non-disjunction.  It's likely there are some parents on Y!A with one.
609958
I am bipolar and I can tell you it takes professional help to manage it correctly. I know, I tried for about 30 of my 46 years without success.\nObviously you have seen there is a problem with your mother.  The question is does SHE see it is a problem and if so, does SHE want help.  There is very little that you can do if SHE thinks there is no problem or if SHE is not ready to seek help. Try talking to her calmly about her behavior, but don't push, she will likely resist. Find out if she sees a problem and if she wants help.\nWhen she is ready to get some help, it may not be necessary to see a psychiatrist. Your family doctor may be able to help her. I am being treated by a Nurse Practitioner, not even an MD.\nI am including some links below that may prove helpful.\nIf you have any further questions please feel free to contact me.\n\nSincerely,\nTerry
593192
Here are a couple of links with some basic info on the two,\n\nhttp://bipolar.about.com/cs/faqs/f/faq_bp12dif.htm\nhttp://www.mentalhealth.com/dis/p20-md02.html\nhttp://www.mcmanweb.com/article-5.htm\n\nHere's my Google search, if you would like to see some more resources, http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLR,GGLR:2005-49,GGLR:en&q=%22bipolar+i%22+%22bipolar+ii%22
577577
The alleles you get from your mom and dad. (biological)
641034
MOST DEFINATELY!  No one understands Bipolar like someone Wwho has it or a family member of someone who has it.  GREAT IDEA!
886308
I've never heard of this sort of thing before. However, bipolar disorder has a genetic base, but seems to be triggered by environmental factors. Current thinking cites stress as a likely trigger, rather than a physical injury. So it is vaguely possible that someone could have a genetic predisposition to bipolar disorder and have it riggered by the car crash. But it would be emotional trauma rather than physical trauma that would be the trigger.\n\nIt could also be PTSD misdiagnosed as bipolar, which is possible, I suppose.
856990
It's all on me, baby! Sometimes I blame my parents for the way the raised me, but for the most part I take responsibility for my problems. I usually chalk it up to inexperience. Life doesn't come with an instruction manual.
341359
It is definitely linked to genetics.  And it can show up WAY BEFORE a person is in their 20s.  I was diagnosed when I was 14.  My paternal aunt has it and there's a long history of mental issues on that side of the family (we think they were bipolar but in terms of years, it's not really an "old" disease so a lot of the people we think had it were just deemed to be "off in the head").  \n\nMy aunt has two daughters, one is 25 and the other is 20, and neither show signs of being bipolar.  My dad isn't but has an anxiety disorder.  I, on the other hand, have it rather severely.  But even though it's considered to be a pretty bad case, I take 1200 mg of Lithium a day and I'm fine.  So if you are diagnosed later in life, and the sooner the better to be honest, it's not the end of the world!  The right doctor who prescribes the right levels of the right medication can make you almost brand new!  I did, however, choose to have my tubes tied so I won't pass the gene along.  It's doubtful my children would have had it but theirs would run a higher risk and I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy.\n\nI recommend just being aware of what's going on inside your head and if you start noticing different sleeping patterns or behaviors (which is sometimes hard to do in yourself), get to a doctor!  And be patient with your mom - I can't imagine how frustrating this must be for you at times.  She's lucky she has someone who cares enough to find out more information than what her doctor tells you.
946053
Not likely to be bipolar. Here's the lowdown, I think you'll find very few of the criteria fit.\n\nOK, so it's a mood disorder and a serious mental illness. It has a strong genetic component, but appears to be triggered environmentally. There are no diagnostic tests for it, just psychiatric evaluation. Most sufferers are not diagnosed until middle age, and it takes an average of around 8-10 years to get a correct diagnosis. Historically, figures suggested it affects about 0.8% of the population at some point, which makes it about half as common as schizophrenia. In recent years, bipolar disorder has become an 'in' diagnosis, and many more people are being diagnosed at younger and younger ages. As with ADHD, this fad may well pass with time, although for the moment many celebrities appear to be 'popularising' it.\n\nIt is characterised by episodes of severe clinical depression and mania or hypomania (for definitions of those, see here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Current_diagnostic_criteria_for_bipolar_disorder ). The extreme end of mania often turns into psychosis, complete with hallucinations and delusions. During manic phases, the person's judgement and perception of reality is severely compromised, leading to risky actions with potentially damaging consequences (financially, sexually and relationship-wise). Untreated, episodes generally worsen over time due to an effect known as kindling. Untreated Bipolar sufferers are at a very high risk of suicide: 20-25% attempt it, and 15% succeed.\n\nThe cycles in bipolar disorder are much longer than people generally believe. Anyone whose mood changes from minute to minute is very unlikely to be bipolar. Bipolar 1 is characterised by mood episodes lasting many months, while Bipolar 2 has episodes in the region of weeks to months. Rapid and ultra-rapid cycling bipolar disorder is rare, and cycles last days to weeks.\n\nThere are many drugs available to treat the symptoms of bipolar (there is no cure). These are either anti-convulsants or anti-psychotics (personally I take both), and the most well known of these is Lithium. Most patients will go through a number of different drugs before finding one that works for them.
29268
Yes.  I have heard that there is a `gay` gene that determines a persons sexuality.  This is hereditary from ones mothers side.  \n\nThere has been a lot of scientific research into these genes and conclusive proof that it is hereditary.\n\nHowever, I accept that some people choose a gay lifestyle themselves even if they are `born` straight.
190261
Bipolar is a lifelong condition that affects people all over the world.  It tends to run in families.
1072156
I think it's in your genes...but not sure.
809139
Yes. A patient can be genetically susceptible to bipolar but never had a manic or hypomanic episode. It is not uncommon for these patients to present with symptoms of depression and be prescribed SSRI antidepressants. These can indeed trigger a manic episode in some cases.\n\nIf your daughter has been hospitalised, then there is no way a detox would have helped. Bear in mind that bipolar (and depression for that matter) is a very individual illness, and correct treatment usually involves a lot of trial and error in getting the right combination of meds.
241092
It is both.\n\nIn my biology and psych classes, my profs often remind us that nothing is as simple as one or the other. Yes, there are genetic factors and yes, there are environmental factors. Both influence how you turn out.\n\nIn family studies of schizophrenia (oh spelling error), if an aunt or uncle had it, a child had a 30% chance of developing it. If the child's sibling developed it, the child had a 50% chance that they would develop it as well. However, if the child's identical twin had developed it, the child had a 74% chance of developing it. If you remember from biology....aunts and uncles are less genetically close as siblings are...and siblings are less genetically close as identical twins (since id twins have the exact genetic make up). But...if the condition were entirely genetics, if one identical twin has it, the other one would have to have it as well. Identical twins who were seperated...if one had it, the other had a 50-60% chance of developing it, which shows that environment definately plays a role.\n\nThe same goes for most other traits.
476174
This is a very good question, here is what I have come up with already. I have depression so it need to do more research too. If you have any other questions, or learn anything else interesting let me know.\n\nAccording to http://www.irishhealth.com/index.html?level=4&id=2580 "It is generally accepted that depression tends to run in families. But how much of this familial tendency is due to shared genes and how much is due to shared environment? "\n\nHere is another that says yes. http://www.depression.realage.com/content.aspx/topic/16\n"Family, twin, and adoption studies have indicated that genetic factors are involved in the development of mood disorders (affective disorders). Potential genetic markers (that is, specific traits present on the genes) have been identified on specific chromosomes (Souery et al 1977). Some of these markers are directly linked to neurobiological processes, believed to be related to the occurrence of major depression. "\n\nFor more information about Genetics and Depression check out these sites:\n\nhttp://www.psycom.net/depression.central.genetics.html
73963
Funny that you should mention losing your mother, because in an article I recently read about causes of bipolar, one that was expressedly listed was "a death in the family". I'm not sure of your age, as that may have something to do with it, but in these situations, see a psychologist, and if you are diagnosed with it (or not), I would get a few other opinions, because it is a major disorder. \n\nNot to call you crazy or any of that, but it's something to be taken very seriously, because it can really effect your life in a strongly negative way if you don't take care of it.\n\nAll people vary, and I don't know your age. For all I know this could be a part of puberty that just had coincidental timing or something of that nature. Surely see someone and do some research, I've included a great site to read up on it.\n\nhttp://bipolar.about.com/cs/bpbasics/a/what_causes_bp.htm