What Are the Causes of Bipolar I Disorder?
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Research
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Bipolar I is characterized by manic highs so severe that they interfere with your daily life. This hypermania alternates with periods of very low lows--usually lasting for weeks. Its cousin Bipolar II also manifests itself as periods of mania and depression but the mania isn't as disruptive or severe as that of Bipolar I. This brain disorder remains enigmatic, but research suggests there are a mix of causes at work to produce these serious mood disturbances.
Genes
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The odds of a child or young adult developing Bipolar I are four to six times more likely if a parent or sibling has the disease. Even so, many people with such a family history never develop the illness, which means that it can't possibly be the only cause of the disorder and is simply one piece of a very complicated puzzle.
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Physiological Clues
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Bipolar I brains, when studied using brain-imaging techniques, don't look like normal functioning brains. The brain patterns are similar to those suffering with disorders like schizophrenia, which indicates this pattern may be linked to mood abnormalities.
Stress
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Major life changes, such as the death of a loved one, a birth, marriage or a layoff, can cause Bipolar I to surface in those who are genetically predisposed to the illness. It can also make those already suffering with the disease worse, amplifying bouts of mania and depression and the behavioral changes that come with it.
Drugs
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Use of addictive substances are quite common in those with bipolar and other related illnesses. These drugs can actually bring about bipolar symptoms, or are used as a crutch to help the disordered person (though it just makes the situation far worse). Uppers like methamphetamine and cocaine and even caffeine can bring on manic episodes, while alcohol and other downers can exacerbate depressive states.
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