depression vs bipolar disorder
The cause of bipolar disorder is not fully known. Genetic neuro-chemical and environmental factors probably interact at various levels to play a role in the initiation and progression of bipolar disorder. Current thinking is that this is a predominantly biological disorder that occurs in a specific part of the brain and due to a malfunction of the neurotransmitters (chemical messengers in the brain). As a biological disorder, can lie dormant and is activated spontaneously or can be triggered by stressors in life.
Although nobody is quite sure of the exact causes of bipolar disorder, researchers have found some important clues. Bipolar disorder tends to be in the genes, which means â € € œruns in families.â About half of people with bipolar disorder have a relative with a mood disorder like depression.
A person who has a parent with bipolar disorder has a 15 percent to 25 percent possibility of having the disease. A person who has a non-identical twin to the disease has a 25 percent chance of illness, the same risk as if both parents have bipolar disorder.
A person who has an identical twin (having exactly the same genetic material) with bipolar disorder are at higher risk of developing the disease about eight times higher risk than a nonidentical twin.
A study of twins adopted (where a child whose biological father of the disease had been raised in an adoptive family untouched by the disease) has helped researchers learn more about the genetic causes to the environment and the causes of life events. Bipolar disorder is primarily a biological disorder that occurs in a specific area of the brain and is due to dysfunction of certain neurotransmitters, or chemical messengers in the brain. These chemicals may involve neurotransmitters like norepinephrine, serotonin and probably many others. As a biological disorder, may stay in state latent and active on their own or can be triggered by external factors such as psychological stress and social conditions.
Environmental Factors bipolar disorder can be a life event that may trigger a mood episode in a person with a genetic predisposition for bipolar disorder. Even no clear genetic factors, the altered health habits, alcohol or drug abuse or hormonal problems can trigger an episode. Among people at risk of disease, Bipolar disorder is appearing at increasingly early ages. This apparent increase in earlier events may be due to under diagnosis of the disease in the past. This change in the age of onset may be the result of social and environmental factors not yet understood.
Although substance abuse is not considered one of the causes of bipolar disorder may worsen the disease by interfering with recovery. The use of alcohol or tranquilizers may induce a more severe depressive phase.
However, another cause of bipolar depression is caused by medications. Medications such as antidepressants can trigger a manic episode in people who are susceptible to bipolar disorder. Therefore, an episode of depression should be treated with care in people who have had manic episodes. Because a depressive episode can turn into a manic episode, when taking an antidepressant drug, an anti-manic drug is also recommended to avoid a manic episode. The anti-manic drug œceiling creates a â €, â € partially protecting the person from antidepressant-induced mania.
Certain other drugs can produce a â € € œhighâ resembling mania. Appetite suppressants, for example, can cause increased energy, decreased need for sleep and increased talkativeness. After stopping the drug, however, the person returns to his normal mood.
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Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Factors Triggering Bipolar Disorder – A Complete View Of The Problem…
Living Well with Depression and Bipolar Disorder
