Bipolar disorder is a disease that affects (according to some studies) as much as five percent of the population. Though there are considerable variations in intensity across the spectrum of the disorder, ongoing research is attempting to isolate potential causes of bipolarity in order to aid in treatment and prevention of the affliction. It's impossible to point to one specific cause for the disease, but research has shown certain factors that come into play for bipolar sufferers.
Like many disorders both mental and physical, bipolarity has a strong genetic component. More than two thirds of those diagnosed as bipolar have a close relative who suffers from the disease, and the prevalence among identical twins is 70% - that is, if one of a pair of identical twins is bipolar, there's a seven-in-ten chance that the other twin suffers from the disease as well. Family history workups and heredity studies can help doctors greatly when it comes to diagnosing bipolarity.
Currently, it is believed that genetics don't trigger the disease itself, but simply reduce the patient's resistance to the stress and anxiety that can trigger bipolar episodes. Where a normal person will suffer a temporary depression given a life setback, those tending toward bipolarity will reach a much lower state of mind; likewise a success is more likely to trigger a manic episode. Therapy, therefore, focuses on mediating the highs and lows that can trigger mood swings. Coupled with medication, a strong therapeutic program can often cause a significant reduction in episodes, if not a complete remission.
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