Dad was manic depressive...will I be?

[Pingo]

My dad was a manic depressive in and out of treatment centers...I think my younger brother may be also...I seem to have some real good days and other days I just feel down....mostly just regular days...should I be concerned...Peace Pingo

[bikewench]

Hey Pingo...

Welcome to Sober Recovery...

I don't know if manic depressivness is heriditary...
probably could google quite a few articles about it though...

this is one article I found...
http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu...cent/manic.cfm

[BlueMoon]

Manic-depressive (or Bi-polar) does tend to be hereditary.
But that does NOT mean that every one in that family will have it.
Bi-polar is not just a couple days up, a couple days down. There's much, much more to the diagnosis.

If this is something you're really concerned about, talking with a psych doc would be a good idea.

I was 1st diagnosed as bi-polar 25yrs ago. It's been a pain in the ass at times, but certainly not a death sentence and for the most part, it's NOTHING like what the media portrays it as.

Blessings,
Blue

[pedagogue]

Prevelance rates and genetic influence are often argued, and rarely universally agreed upon. The way most research is conducted in regard to genetic influence is through the use of twin studies. Monozygotic and Dyzygotic twins are studied to compare genetic make-up and used to estimate the genetic influence in a particular are (such as bipolar disorder)

The generally accepted prevelance rate for bipolar disorder is 1.0-1.5% of the general population (based on US numbers). Using twin studies, researchers have estimated that a 1st degree relative of a person with BPD is about a 5x-8x more likely to have BDP (roughly 5-8% chance). If BOTH parents have BDP, the numbers go up (possibly doubling or so). It has been awhile since I"ve looked at this type of info, but I think those are the generally accepted numbers.

There are many other factors that feed into the development of BPD. Social influence, substance abuse, etc.

A BlueMoon said, BPD can be a pain in the ass, but it is managable. There was a thread on here (it might have been moved to the Cafe) that talked about famous bipolars, many of which were artists/writers.....which makes sense if you think about the range and depth of emotion many of those endevours require.

-p

[bikerbabe]

Hello everybody! I havn't posted here yet. Sober some days and recovered from ED. Depression sux. Pisses me off. I have to do whatever I have to do to stay well.

Mom is bi-polar. Dad is addict. Me - alcoholic, depression sufferer. Never dx bi-polar.
Hubby - Dad suffers from major depression, brother ADD, major depression. Hubby = ADD, major depression, alcoholism.

Hubby's former Doc says you are your fathers son and your brothers brother. Only you, along with your Docs can make an accurate dx. The pieces of the puzzle fit for me.

Today, I eat right, exercise, attend 12-step meetings and take antidepressant medications. Keeps bb sane (well, whatever my definition of sane is!) Anway, I no longer starve, purge, drink. That is a freakin miracle!
bb

[shutterbug]

Pingo...there's no way to know without learning more and talking to docs.

From what I have read (like Peda and BlueMoon explained) and what I know....there is no doubt to me that bipolar IS heriditary, but that is just my opinion and that also doesn't mean that everyone in the family will have it if one does.

I am bipolar, my dad is bipolar, my cousin is bipolar
My mom is not, my sister is not, my grandfather is not.

Just last month I met a woman on here who said she has 5 generations of bipolar women in her family.

I also believe that environment/experiences play a part in onset of the disease and of severity. Seems that there is usually a significant happening of some kind in a person's life that turns the bipolar on - into active mood instead of being a more dormant quality or gene or whatever.

I personally think the numbers Peda quoted are much higher, but it's been a while since I've looked at the data too so I very much could be wrong, but even so....I think the numbers are higher than what has been shown in scientific studies and such b/c there is so much confusion and mis-diagnosis that takes place with mood disorders.

May I ask how old are you?????

[shutterbug]

Here is the thread about creativity and famous bipolars that Peda mentioned:

http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...ess-68847.html

[meli2005]

My AH Is bipolar, so is his dad and mom. Both are also alcoholics. Talk about crappy genes!! Then he had cancer as a baby that is genetic, really crappy.

You might take a test on the internet to see if you are bipolar or have the characteristics.