According to what I have heard and read, bipolar is thought to have a genetic, biological component that is triggered by stress of one sort or another. When taking histories, some docs ask if anyone in your family has bipolar, while some ask "bipolar or depression", so I gather there is some discussion on the matter.

At any rate, I would think that the stress of abuse would certainly be severe enough to trigger bipolar, if indeed that model is correct.

DJ