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There are three main types of bipolar disorder: bipolar type I, bipolar type II, and cyclic mood disorder. In the event of an emotional episode, the intensity of the different types of bipolar disorder may vary depending on what type of bipolar disorder you are.
For example, a manic state is often described as elevated, happy, and excited; while a depressed state is often described as dull, depressed, and melancholy. Moreover, these changes may occur gradually, giving people time to recognize whether it is manic or depressed that is oncoming; but they can also happen quickly and unprepared.
If you or a loved one around you has bipolar disorder, you already know a lot about the painful feelings it can take. But do you know why you or your loved ones around you suffer from bipolar disorder?
Want to learn more about its potential causes? Let's take a look at it together.
Causes of bipolar disorder
Over the past few decades, researchers have found that there are several factors that can explain the formation of bipolar disorder, and the available evidence points to a range of possible causes, but it is by no means a specific cause that causes bipolar disorder to occur.
Experts believe that bipolar disorder is usually caused by a "combination" of the following three factors:
Genetics
Brain chemistry and biology
Life experiences environmental factors
If you're having bipolar disorder for the first time, you may link its cause to a recent stressor, a health problem, or a medication.
Of course, these factors are entirely likely to trigger emotional episodes, but they are not the direct cause of bipolar disorder. Let's move on.
1. Genetics
Bipolar disorder is often closely linked to family factors.
According to the DSM-5, if you have an adult relative with bipolar disorder, your odds of developing bipolar disorder are also greatly increased (about 10 times on average).
The American Psychiatric Association reports that 80-90% of people with bipolar disorder have a relative in their family who suffers from depression or bipolar disorder.
Relevant factors that affect your likelihood of getting bipolar disorder include:
Family history of depression
Family history of schizophrenia (according to studies, there will be overlap between these two conditions)
The number of family members with bipolar disorder or other mood disorders
In general, immediate family members in the family increase the likelihood of bipolar disorder. For example, a person, his siblings, or parents with bipolar disorder is more likely to suffer from bipolar disorder than other members of the family (such as cousins, uncles, etc.).
Of course, it is not that there is a family history of bipolar disorder, a family history of depression and a family history of schizophrenia in the family, etc., other members of the family will definitely have bipolar disorder, depression and schizophrenia, but it is only that family members with a family history of these mental and psychological disorders are more likely to suffer from bipolar disorder than the average person. Moreover, not everyone develops bipolar disorder with a family history.
2. Brain Chemistry and Biology
Bipolar disorder is also closely associated with the nervous system components of the human brain.
Neurotransmitters are the brain's chemical signals that help nerve cells deliver "mail" and signals in our bodies. These chemicals play a vital role in maintaining healthy brain function. And some of them play a role in regulating emotions and behaviors.
According to some earlier studies, the three main neurotransmitters associated with bipolar disorder are: serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. When these chemicals inside our brains get out of balance, they push us into a state of mania or depression, or a mild manic emotional episode.
This is one of these conditions, and some other chemicals and brain structures are also affected by bipolar disorder:
Mitochondria
Some studies have found that mitochondria are also associated with episodes of bipolar disorder.
You may remember what the teacher said in science class — the main place where cells breathe aerobically, the mitochondria called "power houses." As everyone knows, it is also closely related to some emotional disorders.
Why? When cells do not produce or metabolize energy, they often lead to an imbalance in brain energy, which can change people's mood and behavior, such as bipolar disorder.
Brain structure and gray matter
The study found that people with bipolar disorder had reduced gray matter in their brains, including the temporal and frontal lobes.
In these brain tissues, monoamine neurotransmitters help regulate mood and control impulses. Gray matter helps process signals and sensory information, while a lower gray matter volume may help explain why emotion regulation and impulse control become difficult, leading to emotional flare-ups.
In addition, bipolar disorder is also closely related to the hippocampus, which plays an important role in learning, memory, emotion, and impulse control. If you have bipolar disorder, the total volume of the hippocampus may be smaller than normal, or your hippocampus shape may change.
Of course, these brain differences don't necessarily trigger bipolar disorder. Still, these brain structures affect the function of our brains.
3. Life experience and environmental factors
As mentioned earlier, a psychiatric family history increases the likelihood of bipolar disorder, but there are also cases where genetic risks will never occur.
However, regardless of family history and biochemical factors, there are many factors that increase our risk of bipolar disorder. These factors may include:
Personal experience
Health and sleep
External pressure trigger
Alcohol and drug use, etc
Studies have shown that if a person suffers psychological traumatic experiences during childhood, it can significantly increase the risk of bipolar disorder and even lead to more severe psychosocial symptoms. This is because intense emotional distress in childhood may affect his ability to regulate his emotions, and this effect will continue into adulthood. Psychological trauma in childhood can include:
Sexual or physical abuse
Neglected by family members (especially parents)
Traumatic events
Extreme living conditions
Traumatic events, like genetics and brain chemicals, can induce bipolar disorder. They interact and cause emotional episodes in patients, but they are not exactly the same thing.
After a person has experienced some specific life event, his emotions will begin to flare up, like a rough breakup, unemployment, or the death of a loved one; or he has some bad habits, such as lack of sleep, wanton alcoholism, etc., which can also trigger emotional attacks or make them more serious.
This does not mean that the person should be blamed, after all, no one wants to have bipolar disorder, but he cannot control himself.
In addition to the three factors mentioned above, other possible environmental factors include: one's own health, diet, sudden severe stress (such as death or other loss), smaller stress (such as work troubles or family problems), work and life environment, etc.
In addition, bipolar disorder often occurs in conjunction with the following psychosocial or physical disorders, including:
anxiety. At least half of people with bipolar disorder may experience an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Bipolar disorder is understandably associated with childhood traumatic experiences, and many people are dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Bipolar disorder often develops with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, especially when emotional symptoms begin before the age of 21.
Substance use disorders. In DSM-5, more than half of people meet the condition that a bipolar disorder diagnosis also has an alcohol use disorder or other substance use disorder.
insane. Symptoms of delusions, hallucinations, and other psychosis are often symptoms of schizophrenia, but this can also occur in people with bipolar disorder.
Eating disorders. Many people with bipolar disorder also have an eating disorder, and bipolar disorder type II can develop anorexia nervosa.
migraine. Studies have found that people with bipolar disorder are more likely to get migraines.
Although the causes of bipolar disorder can be complex, it is also treatable. While you can't control whether you have the disease or not, there are steps you can take to manage symptoms like mood episodes.
First of all, actively cooperate with the treatment and choose the treatment method that suits you. Many people find that medications help stabilize mood changes, so a psychiatrist or psychologist may recommend medication for treatment.
Second, psychotherapy and hypnotherapy also have benefits. A psychotherapist or hypnotist can help you cope with emotional symptoms and teach you healthy coping techniques to manage stress and defuse traumatic events.
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Text: Consultant Hong