Doctors do not know what causes bipolar disorder, but it is likely a combination of biochemical, genetic, and environmental factors.
Neurotransmitters (chemical messengers in the brain) that may be associated with bipolar disorder include dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine.
Multiple genes, involving several chromosomes, have been linked to the development of bipolar disorder. Research increasingly indicates that bipolar disorder may also share genetic factors with other disorders,...
Read moreOver a course of four posts, we have been discussing the numerous cognitive burdens that go with our illness, even when our moods are... Read more »
It would be wrong to say that bipolar moods are purely a matter of cycles of brain chemistry. We all know that triggers have a lot to do... Read more »
On Tuesday, Merely Me asked a few questions: Do you feel that your personality has changed due to having Multiple Sclerosis...? Have... Read more »
It’s Sunday morning in San Diego. Yesterday afternoon I rolled into town to register for the American Psychiatric Association annual... Read more »
Must We Sacrifice Our Super-powers in the Pursuit of Stability? This is the sixth post dealing with how our ability to think and process... Read more »
You never find happy individuals walking into a psychiatrist’s office for the first time. People with bipolar disorder only seek help when their... Read more »
The five most hated words to someone with bipolar disease are: Just snap out of it. Ive found myself biting my tongue and force-feeding... Read more »
My first real test using mindfulness came in the fall of 2005. I had successfully maintained a low dose regimen for more than a year, way lower than... Read more »
A woman whose spouse and children say she is "moody" and may have bipolar disorder asks experts if she has this condition and should seek treatment... Read more »
Spanish researchers say the changing moods many mothers experience after giving birth have no influence on the course or prognosis of bipolar... Read more »