Causes and Contributing Factors
Overviews
Bipolar Spectrum
Causes
Dual Diagnosis
Treatment
Medications
Psychotherapy
Non-Prescription
Exercise
Omega3
Sleep
Drug Info
Medication List
Zyprexa/olanzapine
Lamictal/lamotrigine
Prozac/fluoxetine
Mood
Stabilizers
Antidepressants
Studies-Bipolar
Studies-Other
Drug Searches
Links
SO Support
Transcripts
Interviews
Famous
Bipolars
Misc
Updated Sites
Juvenile Bipolar
Overviews
Diagnosis
Treatment
Medications
Bipolar and ADHD
Psychotherapy
School
Family Experiences
Substance Abuse
Articles
Scales and Charts
Links
Award
Direct link
What Causes Bipolar Disorder
about.com The Diathesis-Stress Model says that "each person inherits
certain physical predispositions that leave him or her vulnerable to problems
that may or may not appear, depending on what kinds of situations that person
confronts" (Bernstein et al., 2000
Kindling
About.com an informative easy to read explanation of kindling...
initial periods of cycling may begin with an environmental stressor, but if the
cycles continue or occur unchecked, the brain becomes kindled or sensitized -
pathways inside the central nervous system are reinforced so to speak - and
future episodes of depression, hypomania, or mania will occur by themselves
(independently of an outside stimulus), with greater and greater frequency quoted
from The Bipolar Child Demitri and Janice Papolos
The Kindling Model Revisited about com
Family-of-Origin
Characteristics in Bipolar Disorder: A Controlled Study Robert G Cooke, MD, FRCPC1, L Trevor Young, MD, PhD, FRCPC2, Linda
Mohri, MSW, CSW3, Pamela Blake, MSW, CSW4, Russell T Joffe, MD, FRCPC5
Conclusions: The results do not support the hypothesis that specific family attributes
contribute to the development of bipolar disorder. (Can J Psychiatry
1999;44:379–381)
Disruptions In Sleep Routines May Lead To Mania In Manic Depressives June 19,1997 Doctor's Guide ....the likelihood that a manic episode will occur can be reduced by following very regular daily routines and involving family members
Are steroid medications really destabilizing-
Antidepressant-Induced Mania in Bipolar Patients: Identification of Risk Factors Medscape 2002 Particular attention should be paid to patients with a hyperthymic temperament, who have a greater risk of mood switches
More articles on theories and studies of genetic and neurological causes can be found on research page