When it comes to the mental illness of bipolar disorder, there are no definitive answers as to exactly what causes it; however, bipolar disorder is biological as it affects a certain part of the brain where the neurotransmitters or the chemical messengers of the brain -which include serotonin and norepinephrine-, experience some type of malfunction.
Researchers believe that some individuals may be genetically predisposed to manic depression which may lie dormant early on in life and suddenly activate on its own or become triggered by outside stress or environmental factors.
Genetic Risk Factors of Bipolar Disorder
Researchers believe that genetics may play a large roll in manic depression as it is tends to run in families and it is estimated that about fifty percent of individuals diagnosed with this disorder have a family member who has experienced a mood disorder or mental illness such as depression.
Researchers have also determined that an individual who has one parent or a non-identical twin with bipolar disorder has a twenty five percent chance of developing this illness and that these risks are even greater in identical twins.
Environmental causes which may play a Roll in Bipolar Disorder
Individuals who experience a traumatic event in their life -even if there is no history of mental illness or in their family- may have an extreme “mood episode” which is associated with the symptoms of a manic depression.
A lifestyle which involves alcohol or drug abuse could also trigger this disorder, however, alcohol or substance abuse is not considered to be a cause of bipolar disorder, but it may trigger episodes in individuals who are susceptible to having this mental illness.
Discover How Easy It Is To Start Being Happy Today – FREE REPORT!
Read the Panic Attack Review

