I have had some predisposing factors for the development of a bipolar condition. However, it became clear I'd continued to need mood stabilization from an anti-epileptic drug after a traumatic brain injury approximately 4 years ago.

I was attacked from behind while seated on a park bench. I was talking with my elderly mother in broad daylight in a small city's park in New England, USA.

It was a severe attack on my head/neck. Multiple severe blows to the head and the violent shaking of my head back and forth (aka "shearing") while the perp had repeatedly punched me in the head, also shaking my head by having a tight grip on my hair.

I was tried on many AEDs for mood stabilization after that, and we'd settled on Depakote. I have not yet been able to get off of the Depakote since. I have tried many times.

Everyone around me sees a difference in me since the assault/TBI. They see a huge difference if/when I am not on Depakote and/or other mood stabilizing agents. Some of the changes may be exacerbated PTSD; yet, very irritable and can easily "run hot," when I have always been very calm, patient, easy going prior to the head injury. I feel horrible without a mood stabilizer now. Mood stabilizers bring me back to feeling more "normal," more like myself.

There are scientific studies showing a correlation between head injuries and bipolar, as well as other MI conditions.

http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/....2013.13020190
Head injury can cause mental illness | ScienceNordic
Psychiatric disorders and traumatic brain injury
Mood and Anxiety Disorders Following Traumatic Brain Injury | Psychiatric Times
Bipolar Disorder, Manic Depression - Causes and Prevention, head injury
Head Injury May Cause Mental Illness - Scientific American
https://www.researchgate.net/publica...c_brain_injury

Just to mention a few. There are many.

I find it interesting, especially considering my own history.

My husband was an avid football player. He and many of his teammates are diagnosed with BP-1 or 2 as they have gotten older. Almost everyone on his (former) team is diagnosed this way now. A couple of them have temporal lobe epilepsy diagnoses. They all had multiple concussions.

Have you had a TBI or concussion and have had chronic mood issues since the head injury?


WC