Bipolar Disorder still known by its former name, Manic Depression is a very serious mental illness characterized by extreme mood swings from very depressed, to hypermania where sufferers exhibit high energy levels, rapid thoughts, illogical thinking and reckless behaviors and extremely good moods. There are also times of hypomania, which is almost a normal level of good mood and then there are mixed moods. Each of these mood swings is called episodes and individuals with Bipolar Disorder can experience times when they are episode free. Two percent of people in the USA are estimated as having Bipolar Disorder. Hospitalization for mental illness occurs within 30 percent of all psychiatric illnesses. People suffering with Bipolar Disorder can be hospitalized as well.
At the moment medical researchers have not established the exact causes of Bipolar Disorder. Researchers are continuing to do wonderful research into the area of brain structure and it.s functioning. This research is giving doctors, psychiatrists, and patients. wonderful insights into many mental disorders. As it stands, it is generally accepted that Bipolar Disease can have its origins in biology, emotional issues, and physical causes and stressors from the environment.
According to research published in the American Journal of Psychiatry in 2000, people suffering from Bipolar Disorder appear to have 30 percent more brain cells than people who do not have the illness. These brain cells are responsible for sending signals to the brain and may interfere with normal brain functioning and cause the mania and depression episodes. These brain cells may be responsible for regulating stress and cognitive functioning. These extra brain cells may actually cause the brain to react differently than non-Bipolar individuals with fewer brain cells. The theory is these extra cells may cause the brain may go into overload, for both moods and or cognitive functioning.
More genetic research is needed to discover why people with Bipolar Disorder have the extra brain cells. What we do know in terms of genetic research is that Bipolar Disorder seems to run in families. If there is another sibling or parent with Bipolar Disorder there is a possibility that other children in the family will have it too. Research in mice point to the circadian gene that regulates, heart activity, moods, hormones, and blood pressure can be a cause for Bipolar Disorder. Also, it is to be noted that not all people who suffer from Bipolar Disorder have a family history of this illness.
More research is pointing to chemical imbalances in the brain, which are responsible for the extreme mood swings. The neurotransmitters, dopamine, norepinephrine and seratonin are responsible for regulating moods.
Biological reasons may be pre dispose someone to coming down with Bipolar Disorder; however, it is generally accepted that other factors must come into play such as environmental factors such as stressors, alcohol abuse, and lifestyle. Many factors such as divorce, rape, loss of job, death, and so on are all mood and stress inducers. When the moods are affected if a person has Bipolar Disorder or the tendency for Bipolar Disorder, the life stressors cause the moods to go out of balance, even more so than in a person who does not have Bipolar Disorder but are going through the same life stressors. These environmental factors are called triggers.
Substance abuse can affect Bipolar Disorder but it is hard to know if the substance abuse such as illegal drugs, tobacco or alcohol causes the disease or if Bipolar Disorder is already present and sufferers tend to abuse substances to self medicate.
More research is needed to find the causes of Bipolar Disorder and to help prevent, manage, and treat the illness. Though Bipolar Disorder is a lifetime illness with more research it is possible that even that conclusion may change.