[nageshrao]

what are the causes of bipolar disorder other than genetics?

[Christina86]

Hello!

Have you read this website? It mentions a few causes here: http://psychcentral.com/disorders/bi...lar_causes.htm

[RelientK]

Originally Posted by nageshrao

what are the causes of bipolar disorder other than genetics?

Read that link by Christina86. That's a good start.

It is definitely genetic. Not everyone develops it though. The trick is to figure out the vast array of initiation triggers. Abnormally high stress is a certain trigger.

Other than that? I dunno. I developed this at age 28. My sister developed it age 17. For me it was significant stress due to being a repeated victim of crime. For her, who knows. She was in high school and the most popular kid.

It's interesting to think about. What is the genetic purpose of Bipolar? Recent research indicated that other mental illnesses are some kind of evolutionary adaptation. If that's the case, I'd rather stay "primitive".

[SJ_Gooseman]

My understanding is genetics is by far the most common cause, which can be without any know family history. Stress and trauma can be responsible for either bringing our existing genetics, or in extreme cases actually causing damage that is the actual source. This trauma can be physical or emotional, and the physical can be injury, or abuse, especially sexual abuse. Chemical abuse is another. Some do not recognize these cases as "true" BP, especially drug or alcohol, others do, but it really matters not if the symptoms are the same. But then our system is often very poor at correct DX in any case. I believe for many doctors the differentiation between, PTSD and such, and BP is as much the believed permanency of the condition and required medicine treatment. PTSD can often be treated with therapy and short term medication, while BP normally cannot, it require long term treatment.