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Causes of Bipolar affective disorder

The exact cause of bipolar disorder is not fully understood.  It does seem to run in families, which suggests that genetics are involved. Around 10–15 per cent of the nearest relatives of people with bipolar disorder also have a mood disorder.

It is also known that very stressful life events and physical illness can bring on (trigger) periods of the illness, so the causes are far from simple.

Research has found that there are changes to the brain’s chemistry during manic and depressive episodes. This includes changes to hormone levels and chemicals that transmit signals within the brain (neurotransmitters). Understanding how this works can help in finding ways to treat and manage the condition.

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