Tell Me More About Bipolar Disorder.
6. What causes bipolar disorder?
There is no single proven cause of bipolar disorder. However, research suggests that various biological and genetic factors play an important role. This does not mean that a person has to inherit the genes, as the genes involved may be changed when a person is conceived. Biological differences are observed in patients with bipolar disorder. These differences include changes in neurotransmitters (brain communication chemicals), brain anatomy, and in the function of brain cells. Since none of these changes occur consistently in all individuals with bipolar disorder, no reliable lab or imaging test exists for bipolar disorder. However, the research findings do convincingly show that there are various biological problems with brain functioning during episodes of bipolar disorder.
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