(((mandy_w))) Here's a link you may want to check out: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...6bO3E3fw9tBRhQ This may help answer some of your questions. I'm bipolar but no one in my family tree is. My mom is schizophrenic and I tend to think her mental illness in some way genetically contributed to mine. I don't think the cause of bipolar disorder is entirely known. Sorry I'm not much help here. It is quite a mystery.