Although a specific genetic link to bipolar disorder has not been found, studies show that 80 to 90 percent of those who suffer from bipolar disorder have relatives with some form of depression.
It is also possible that people may inherit a tendency to develop the illness, which can then be triggered by environmental factors such as distressing life events.
The presence of bipolar disorder indicates a biochemical imbalance which alters a person??s moods. This imbalance is thought to be caused by irregular hormone production or to a problem with certain chemicals in the brain, called neurotransmitters, that act as messengers to our nerve cells.