is bipolar disorder genetically transferred to offspring?
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ryan (
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December 1st, 2006
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It can be. Mental illness, as a whole tends to "run in families". But then you have the family member who is totally sane, in the midst of madness.
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There may be a tendency for bipolar disorder to run in families, but it's never been proven.
It would seem that a person might develop mental illness from how she is raised as well as from genetic makeup. Being raised by people with mental illness who provide an unstable upbringing can make a child unbablanced as well. This is the old nature/nurture controversy.
There have been some studies that have suggested that a predisposition to bipolar disorder goes through the mother's side of the family.
The body's fluctuations in its 'feel good' chemicals and hormones have been proven to cause bipolar disorder - thus it is a physical illness - just like the body's fluctuations in insulin is deadly to a diabetic, such fluctuations without proper medication and therapy is deadly to a Bipolar Disorder patient. It is 'genetic' in the same way diabetes is. Some families 'tend' to have more of it, and some don't. Personal habits, stresses, situations, and behaviors can make it more likely - but doesn't mean everyone's gonna get it in that family. It is present in both paternal and maternal genetics equally. Various good articles can be found on this topic at: www.webmd.com and at www.associatedcontent.com
Why not ? When the child knows about the mental illness of his or her parent he/she might feel bad.Moreover every research seems to prove this. There is a serious discussion about britney with her chilrens who is suffering from Bipolar Disorder..
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Allan.
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Dual Diagnosis
There is probably some tendency to inherit it, but not all children will get it. I don’t know how dominant or recessive a trait it is.
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