Apparently, genetics are looked at by pdocs in their initial dx's. It is regarded as one of the "flags" for the illness, particularly if it shows up in close fam. members. My pdoc was interested in my having a mother with some kind of mood disorder, Her brother (my uncle), his daughter dz with BP, and my son, whose condition is very severe. My Pdoc looked at many other things too, though, before coming up with my dx of BP II.

but that is only a genetic vulnerability. Other life factors play a huge role, stress being a big one.

Assuming that a baby will develop the illness based on questionable family traits is dangerous, I think, because that will influence how the child is treated in his life.