[SmokeyPoole2012]

This is not a race issue so please don't be offended.

I was told that bipolar is inherited so I'm attempting to look back a few generations in my family history trying to identify those who may have suffered from this disease. I have found that my family is made up of many different races which got me wondering if bipolar affect one race more than another. Do you think it would be of any help to pay more attention to my French, Irish, African-American heritage or any one of the other mixes.

I was wondering if anyone has an opinion on racial significance of bipolar.

Differing rates of bipolar among races have not been found I don't believe. Even when I did a quick search the only study I found was stating that they found more black males with bipolar and more white females. The study actually used the terms " black" and " white" and we know that neither is an actual race, so that isn't really helpful.

I have read over and over again that race, and sex is not differing in bipolar. Also while bipolar can be handed down through genes, it comes down to many genes and also environment, and other factors. Bipolar can be inherited, but one can have bipolar with no family history also.

[Irreplaceable]

I don't think that race figures into bipolar. Everything I have ever read on bipolar never indictated race being a factor. I believe it's mostly hereditary...Or, like Anika said, it's possible that you can have it but no one else in your family has it...

[tcmoon52]

I would look closely at your Irish roots. I am half Irish and on my mom's side there is mental Illness for generations. Even though my ancestors went to great lengths to hide it, I was able to figure it out. Families with relatives with a high occurance of aloholism, is a good start, 2 generations ago, alcohol was the only thing avaliable, so they self medicated.

[SmokeyPoole2012]

Originally Posted by tcmoon52

I would look closely at your Irish roots. I am half Irish and on my mom's side there is mental Illness for generations. Even though my ancestors went to great lengths to hide it, I was able to figure it out. Families with relatives with a high occurance of aloholism, is a good start, 2 generations ago, alcohol was the only thing avaliable, so they self medicated.

Your ideas may have some merit because I have found that on my mothers side of the family, which is half Irish half African-American there is evidence of some social disorders such as failed marriages, isolation, anger issues and so forth going back at least two generations. However I have found that on my fathers side some family members have severe problems but I really can't tell if they were bipolar or simply psychotic thugs.

Thanks for the response.

[cocoabeans]

On my very limited knowledge of genetics and racial classifications, it isn't possible that bipolar would be present more in any "race" but, it could be in a geographical region or even in a culture. It is also possible that bipolar disorder is not a biological illness but, cultural. (Which, by the way, does not make our experiences any more or less "real.")

I'd be interested in finding whether the symptoms of bipolar disorder is recognized across human cultures.

[SmokeyPoole2012]

Originally Posted by cocoabeans

On my very limited knowledge of genetics and racial classifications, it isn't possible that bipolar would be present more in any "race" but, it could be in a geographical region or even in a culture. It is also possible that bipolar disorder is not a biological illness but, cultural. (Which, by the way, does not make our experiences any more or less "real.")

I'd be interested in finding whether the symptoms of bipolar disorder is recognized across human cultures.

The experts have given bipolar 3 distinct classification bp I, bp II and a third I believe is bp III (I could be wrong about the third) and their understanding of the "disease" isn't complete. I trust they are doing everything that they can to treat it but I've come to think there is a lot yet to be discovered.

Perhaps with further understanding and questioning (which I intend to do) we won’t have to place everyone into one classification with three subtitles. In order for us bp to fix our own difficult lives it only makes sense for us to continue questioning our illness.

Thank you for your response

[Victoria'smom]

I've always been told high instances of addiction is a sign. DH and I come from very different backgrounds, as well as completely different races. We were raised VERY differently and it shows through our prospective and reactions to the same stimuli. In fact we have the EXACT same diagnoses but I have a more severe form of BP and generally take the same medication. We had one thing exactly the same in both house holds addiction (different types) rampant in our families. So the side with the most chaos is probably the one that has more MI but for me, DH and my son from all sides you look severe chaos is the main common denominator between all sides of the family. Best of luck.

[Confusedinomicon]

Diagnosis are arbitrary and useless since this illness presents itself in various ways among the population. Its only here to make it easier fot clincians and psychitrists to prescribe treatment plans and for insurance companies to bill you. Something to remember is that many of these diseases are found in other cultures but the acceptance of it can change the long term outcome. Schizophrenics actually do a lot better in institutes that dont punish or give a lot of negative feedback toward their symptoms. (atleast in the US) They may not be as fully fuctional in some cases but can still live fufilling lives.As people accept bp more, the prognosis for people will get better, I believe.