Comments on: Bipolar Disorder & Heredity – The Genetic Link: Part I

By: Irina

Irina — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 22:18:53 +0000

I have a question. My friends mom and sister both are diagnosed as bipolar. He himself has had no mood disorders and has not been diagnosed with anything. Is he a carrier? Is it possible that only females in his family get the disease? Do his children have a higher chance of getting the disease?

By: Bipolar Disorder and Heredity « Journey to balance Blog

Bipolar Disorder and Heredity « Journey to balance Blog — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:07:28 +0000

[...] Disorder and Heredity Posted on 10/23/2009 by journey2balance Is there a gene which causes Bipolar Disorder? Yes. And no. “The genetic basis of Bipolar Disorder probably [...]

By: ACI

ACI — Mon, 11 May 2009 17:50:20 +0000

My family is one of the ones participating in a genetic study about bipolar. My youngest daughter was diagnosed with Bipolar I at age 14 and joined a bipolar child study at NIMH. Through the study my middle daughter and I were diagnosed as Bipolar II. My son is ADHD and husband is ADD. I have a nephew (sister’s child)who is Bipolar I and her other son is ADHD. My grandson (15) showed signs of depression last summer and has since been diagnosed as bipolar. My brother has panic attacks; has a son (ADD) and one with (panic attacks). We believe the bipolar comes from my side of the family. My siblings and I believe my father and paternal grandmother were undiagnosed Bipolar as we remember definite episodes of Mania. I have no doubt there is a genetic component, but my son and his wife have one child and another on the way even with the family history.

By: Bipolar Disorder Q&A: How can I best manage bipolar during pregnancy? | Bipolar Beat

Sat, 18 Apr 2009 17:25:07 +0000

[...] Answering this question involves a very complex and personal decision process that will include you, your partner, your psychiatrist, and your OB/GYN. There is a growing body of literature on the patterns of genetic risk related to bipolar disorder and we have previously discussed some of the most current statistics in Part I of a previous two-part series entitled “Bipolar Disorder & Heredity &ndash The Genetic Link.” [...]

By: KPM

KPM — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 00:29:00 +0000

I was recently diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. My boyfriend is Schizophrenic. We’ve both said we’re not sure we want kids, but after reading this I’m pretty much positive we CAN’T have kids… if bipolar disorder and schizophrenia share so many of the same genes… I wouldn’t want to bring a child into the world who had to deal with BOTH…

By: Penny Campbell

Penny Campbell — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 14:09:38 +0000

My mother has had 2 nervous breakdowns & been hospitalized both times,once she’s released she stopped the med.s.(And never told anyone her diagnosis.)Growing up,she was very hateful person.She was always either sleeping or screaming. I rememder when I was about 10 she was sitting at the kitchen table scowling at nothing.Just scowling. I asked her,”How come you never smile?” And she yelled “I do smile just not around you!!” Anyway when I was 20 I was diagnosed as bipolar I with panic disorder. I have worked very hard not to become that scowling,hateful person. My daughter was also diagnosed as bipolar I at the age of 12.(When she threatened to cut a girl with a butterknife in the school cafeteria)

By: Joe Kraynak

Joe Kraynak — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:10:51 +0000

I think worrying about it, especially if it’s causing you to lose sleep, is counterproductive.

The risks are greatest if one or more parents (you and/or your husband) were to have bipolar disorder – 25% chance if both parents have bipolar, 12-15% chance if only one parent carries the diagnosis.

The numbers get real fuzzy when the bipolar is a generation removed or the relative is someone other than the parent of the person.

Because neither you nor your husband carry the diagnosis, I doubt that the risk is very high. And keep in mind that worry = stress, which can lead to all sorts of health-related issues. Don’t fret so much that you can’t fully enjoy your little bundle of joy.

By: Patricia S

Patricia S — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 05:53:55 +0000

My mother was diagnosed Type 1 bipolar. Neither my brother nor myself have BP. Nobody in my husband’s family has bipolar. We have a one year old son. What are the odds that he will develop this disease? Many thanks for any help–I have spent many sleepless nights worrying about this.

By: NIMH: Genetic Link to Bipolar Disorder?

NIMH: Genetic Link to Bipolar Disorder? — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:02:16 +0000

[...] For more about bipolar disorder, genetics, and heredity, check out Dr. Fink’s two-part series – “Bipolar Disorder & Heredity: The Genetic Link.” [...]

By: » NIMH: More Data Prove Genetic Link to Bipolar Disorder - Bipolar Beat

» NIMH: More Data Prove Genetic Link to Bipolar Disorder - Bipolar Beat — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 11:04:43 +0000

[...] For more about bipolar disorder genetics and heredity, check out Dr. Fink’s two-part series – “Bipolar Disorder & Heredity: The Genetic Link.” [...]