I think you are genetically predispositioned for bipolar disorder, but I think if you are and then exposed to abuse (verbal, physical, emotional, etc) then you are likely to show signs...

In our family, my mother was the worst case scenario as far as bipolar disorder goes...rapid cycler, in and out of the hospital...psychotic episodes...

my father, I am certain has some sort of personality disorder that is not diagnosed...he thrives on attention that is undeserved (lets people believe he served in VietNam when he didn't...yes he was in the service at the time, but stateside...now he is disabled and loves to talk about all of his pain meds and how bad he has it)

My sister and I had a very traumatic childhood because my parents didn't raise us...they were so wrapped up in their own stuff that we were often left to our own devices...(dad talks as if he was the very best parent on earth..ha)

I definitely showed signs of bipolar disorder in my late teens, but with my parents being so wrapped in themeselves, it was missed. I was not properly diagnosed until my early thirties...AFTER my (then) four year old son was diagnosed!!

Now, for me, all the signs were there...I had gotten into some (minor) trouble with the law in my twenties, which was completely out of character...I hopped from job to job to job...working several at the same time...did alot of stupid things...etc.

Luckily for me, I have a very stable spouse and in spite of my eccentricities at times my kids have had a stable homelife overall. Yes, I have put us in jeopardy from time to time financially because of my mania, but somehow we have managed to get through. I think my kids are getting a childhood, where I had none.

In spite of the family history of bipolar disorder, I want to break that neglect/abuse cycle. They needent go hand in hand.