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Is bipolar disorder hereditary?

Part 1. Vocabulary

 

bipolar

/ bīˈpōlər/ adj

- (of psychiatric illness) characterized by both manic and depressive episodes

I can't understand her at times because of her bipolar attitude.

 

manic

/ Manik/ adj

- showing wild, apparently deranged, excitement and energy

The party is causing manic to the attendees.

 

upheaval

/ ˌƏpˈhēvəl/ n

- a violent or sudden change or disruption to something

Major upheavals are happening due to the riot and chaos.

 

prevalent

/ Prev (ə) lənt/ adj

- widespread in a particular area or at a particular time

Social media addiction is prevalent in society today.

 

complex

/ ˌKämˈpleks, kəmˈpleks, ˈkämˌpleks/ adj

- not easy to analyze or understand; complicated or intricate

She has a  complex project to finish for the semester.

 

deprivation

/ ˌDeprəˈvāSH (ə) n/ n

- the lack or denial of something considered to be a necessity

Due to the exams, I am experiencing deprivation of rest and sleep.

 

 

Part 2. Comprehension Questions

What is bipolar disorder?

What is usually experienced by people with bipolar disorder?

What are the factors that contribute to bipolar disorder?

How high is the chance that an identical twin to have bipolar disorder?

How can environmental conditions lead to the development of bipolar disorder?

 

Part 3. Article Reading

 

People with bipolar disorder may have some difficulty with daily activities due to changes in their energy level, sleep pattern, mood, and level of focus.

According to the National Institute of Mental HealthTrusted Source, bipolar disorder is a condition that can cause severe mood changes, including extreme manic highs and depressive lows.

Although experiences vary from one person to another, bipolar disorder can cause extreme upheaval in an individual's life, affecting both personal and professional relationships.

About 2.8% of adults Trusted Source in the United States have bipolar disorder, and about 4.4% of US adults will experience it at some time in their lives.

 

Is bipolar disorder hereditary?

Many factors contribute to bipolar disorder, but genetic factors are the most prevalent.

People are not born with bipolar disorder, but genetics play a significant part in its development. People with bipolar disorder may also have a family member with the condition.

In one older review article, researchers found a strong familial component in bipolar disorder. A child who has a parent or sibling with bipolar disorder has a 5–10% chance of developing the condition themselves. A person who has an identical twin with bipolar disorder has up to a 70% chance of developing the condition themselves.

On the other hand, the chance of developing bipolar disorder among individuals with no family history of it is incredibly low - between 0.5% and 1.5%.

According to medical experts, bipolar disorder can also skip generations. Bipolar disorder is a complex condition, and scientists do not fully understand the role that genes play. A combination of many different genes likely increases a person's chance of developing this condition.

 

Other risk factors

Genetics are not the only factor that can lead to the development of the bipolar disorder. Genes work in tandem with environmental conditions such as stress and lifestyle habits.

In a 2019 review of studies, researchers looked at the effects of sleep deprivation on people with bipolar disorder. They found that a lack of sleep can trigger manic episodes. Maintaining a regular sleep-wake cycle is, therefore, a crucial step in stabilizing bipolar disorder symptoms.

Excessive use of substances such as alcohol and drugs can also trigger bipolar disorder symptoms, such as mania and depression. Around 56% of people with bipolar disorder have a history of substance misuse. Sometimes, a diagnosis of bipolar disorder follows an extremely stressful or traumatic event. Stress does not cause bipolar disorder, but it can trigger episodes of mood changes in certain individuals.

 

Source: Medically reviewed by Nicole Washington, DO, MPH, written by Theona Layne on April 4, 2021, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/

 

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