Causes of Bipolar Disorder: Piecing Together the Links
Receiving a mental health diagnosis is scary, especially when you don’t know anyone in your family who has one. When your doctor told you she suspects you have bipolar disorder, it hit you pretty hard. You wonder where it could have come from. She recommends a therapist and psychiatrist, but you are hesitant to make an appointment. What will your family think? Fear begins as you wonder what to do next.
Many people feel this way about finding mental health care and wonder where conditions like bipolar disorder come from. A survey from 2022 found that 23.6% of Floridians reported needing counseling or therapy but did not receive any.
Clean Recovery Centers is a local provider of mental health and substance use disorder treatment. Our blog serves as a resource for our communities to learn more about these types of conditions. Let’s take a look at the causes of bipolar disorder and what increases the likelihood of its development.
Unraveling the Causes of Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a complex mental health condition that causes variable mood swings, including episodes of mania and depression. Similar to other mental health conditions, the exact causes of bipolar disorder are not fully understood. The consensus agrees the condition stems from a combination of genetic, biochemical, and environmental factors. There have also been links to abnormalities in brain structure and function that may contribute to the development of bipolar disorder. Additionally, stressful life events, trauma, and substance use can trigger or exacerbate symptoms in those predisposed to the condition.
The Role of Genetics in Bipolar Disorder
Genetics plays a large role in our physical and mental health. However, finding the exact genes linked to bipolar disorder proves a difficult task. Researchers are always trying to expand their knowledge of mental health conditions and how they present in DNA, but there is no singular gene or set of genes that cause bipolar disorder. Despite this, those who have an immediate family member (parent, sibling) diagnosed with bipolar disorder are more likely to develop the condition themselves. Genes can be unpredictable, meaning it is not a guarantee, just a probability that the condition will present.
How Chemical Imbalances Shape Bipolar Disorder
Chemical imbalances shape how bipolar disorder presents itself. The most common neurotransmitters affected are noradrenaline, serotonin, and dopamine. Noradrenaline is responsible for initiating the fight or flight response during perceived threats as well as mood regulation. In those with bipolar disorder, noradrenaline is typically low. However, during manic episodes, the noradrenaline metabolite 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol increases. The fight or flight response is higher during mania and lower during depression.
Serotonin is responsible for emotional stability, mood regulation, and sleep and appetite control. Studies have made a connection with serotonin imbalance and mood disorders, though the results in bipolar disorder have varied. Some may experience higher serotonin imbalances than others.
Mood changes are directly related to dopamine levels within the brain. The cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) level of the dopamine metabolite homovanillic acid (HVA) was decreased during depression but increased during manic episodes. This confirmed dopamine abnormalities in those with bipolar disorder.
How Bipolar Disorder Affects the Brain
There is research supporting that those with bipolar disorder have structural differences in their brains. The size of certain areas and the amount of functionality are not the same as those without bipolar disorder. However, bipolar disorder cannot be diagnosed from a scan alone, but as research continues, scans may become beneficial in diagnosing and treating the condition.
The Environment’s Role in Bipolar Disorder Development
Environmental factors have a role in developing bipolar disorder. These can occur during childhood or late teen/early 20s years. Experiencing chronic stress from poverty, hunger, divorce, or loss increases the likelihood of developing bipolar disorder. Having a poor stress response as a child also raises the odds of bipolar disorder development later in life.
What Sparks Bipolar Episodes? Common Triggers to Watch
Bipolar disorder is life-long but is manageable through various outlets. One way to manage the condition is to learn what triggers a manic and depressive episode for yourself. Identifying and understanding triggers is crucial for implementing effective management techniques. Here are some common triggers to watch:
- Stressful life events: Experiencing life changes, both positive and negative, can trigger a bipolar episode. These include the loss of a loved one, a breakup, financial difficulties, or job changes, which heighten emotional vulnerability and lead to mood shifts. Even events that spark joy such as weddings or the birth of a child can induce stress that triggers a manic or depressive episode.
- Sleep disruptions: Sleep plays a critical role in maintaining emotional and mental stability. Sleeping too much, not enough, or not soundly trigger manic or depressive episodes. Staying up late for consecutive nights, frequently waking during sleep, and sleeping for only a few hours all cause a destabilized mood.
- Substance use: The use of alcohol or illicit substances has intense effects on those with bipolar disorder. Alcohol is a depressant, which can worsen depressive symptoms. Stimulants such as cocaine or methamphetamines trigger manic states. Substances also cause chemical imbalances in the brain, leading to further mood dysregulation.
- Changes in routine: Routine provides structure and predictability, which helps lessen variations in mood. Sudden changes to daily routines, including missing meal times, skipping exercise, or changes in work schedules, serve as triggers for bipolar episodes to occur.
- Missing medications: Taking all medications as prescribed keeps bipolar disorder in check. Missing doses or stopping a medication without talking to a medical professional will increase the likelihood of experiencing an episode.
- Seasonal changes: Shifts in seasons and exposure to light directly influence mood patterns. Many experience an increase in depressive symptoms during the winter months as the days become shorter with less sunlight.
Steps to Accurately Diagnose Bipolar Disorder
Because bipolar is a mental health condition, only a medical or psychiatric professional can diagnose it. The first step in diagnosing bipolar disorder is a comprehensive assessment. This includes a physical to rule out any underlying conditions, followed by getting a history of symptoms. The doctor will use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria to determine if bipolar disorder is the right diagnosis. The DSM-5 states to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder the person must fit these symptoms:
- For bipolar I disorder: Criteria have been met for at least one manic episode. The manic episode may have been preceded by and may be followed by hypomanic or major depressive episodes. A manic episode is characterized by a distinct period of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood. This includes abnormally and persistently goal-directed behavior or energy, lasting at least 1 week and present most of the day, nearly every day. Also includes any duration where a hospitalization is required. Depressive and hypomanic episodes may occur but are not required for a bipolar I disorder diagnosis.
- For bipolar II disorder: Criteria have been met for at least one hypomanic episode and at least one major depressive episode. A hypomanic episode is characterized by a distinct period of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood. This includes abnormally and persistently increased activity or energy, lasting at least 4 consecutive days and present most of the day, nearly every day. A depressive episode is characterized by low mood, loss of interest, sleep disruptions, and a sense of worthlessness. Depressive episodes can last for weeks or longer.
Your doctor will go over your diagnosis and work with you to come up with a treatment plan. Many benefit from entering therapy and some will find medications help as well.
Getting Help for Bipolar Disorder in Tampa, FL
Experiencing mood shifts is frustrating, and untreated bipolar disorder may be the culprit behind them. The good news is there is hope through treatment options that allow you to take back control. Bipolar disorder treatment will consist of daily group and individual therapies and coping strategy development for when times are stressful. Your care team will teach you about triggers and what leads to variations in mood. You will have all the tools needed to manage your bipolar disorder and keep your mood stable. Don’t let mood swings keep taking the driver’s seat – turn the wheel to a brighter future.
There may be no cure for bipolar disorder, but the condition doesn’t have to keep running your life. Clean Recovery Centers offers a unique, three-phase approach that addresses all aspects of mental health. Our team understands that bipolar disorder may stem from past trauma, which is why we have a certified rapid-resolution therapist at each of our locations. Call us today at (888) 330-2532 to learn more about our program offerings.
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