Miscellaneous

Is substance abuse common with bipolar disorder?

Is substance abuse common with bipolar disorder?

In a study of people with bipolar disorder, approximately 60 percent had some history of substance abuse. Although it’s not fully understood why, bipolar disorder makes people more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol. Drugs and alcohol often make the symptoms of bipolar disorder worse.

Is there a connection between bipolar disorder and genetics?

Bipolar disorder, especially the most severe type (type I), has a strong genetic component. Family studies suggest that a small number of genes of modest effect are involved in this disorder.

Will my child inherit bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder may also be genetic or inherited. However, it will usually not be passed to children. About one in 10 children of a parent with bipolar disorder will develop the illness.

Does bipolar disorder affect brain development?

In brain areas that regulate emotions, adolescents with bipolar disorder lose larger-than-anticipated volumes of gray matter, or neurons, and show no increase in white matter connections, which is a hallmark of normal adolescent brain development, according to the imaging study published in the journal Biological …

Can bipolar be seen on a brain scan?

Brain scans of people with bipolar disorder may have some differences or anomalies. Differences may be physical or show diminished or increased activity in the brain. Currently, doctors do not use brain images to diagnose bipolar disorder.

What parts of the brain are affected by bipolar disorder?

Participants with bipolar disorder exhibited thinner cortical gray matter in frontal, temporal and parietal regions of both brain hemispheres. Bipolar disorder had the largest effect on left pars opercularis, left fusiform gyrus and left rostral middle frontal cortex.

How are bipolar disorder and chemical dependence treated?

Until recently, bipolar disorder and chemical dependence were diagnosed separately and treated at various facilities. People diagnosed as bipolar were treated at mental health treatment centers or psychiatric clinics while abusing drugs or alcohol were referred to rehabilitation centers.

Can a dual diagnosis of bipolar disorder cause suicide?

Depression in bipolar disorder may last for days or weeks, depending on your mood cycle. These periods are dangerous for Dual Diagnosis individuals, who have a higher risk of self-injury and suicide when they’re using drugs and alcohol during a low period. The symptoms of bipolar disorder aren’t always clearly defined.

Can a person with bipolar disorder be addicted to alcohol?

Because it’s available and legal, alcohol is a very common substance that individuals with bipolar disorder. If a person struggles with bipolar disorder and substance abuse, they may have a Dual Diagnosis of bipolar and substance abuse. Being diagnosed with Dual Diagnosis or a co-occurring condition makes recovery very difficult.

Why do so many people with bipolar disorder abuse substances?

The real reason why most people with bipolar disorder abuse substances is unknown even though substance abuse often aggravates the symptoms . People with no history of mental health illness or dormant symptoms of bipolar disorder can grow to exhibit the symptoms due to substance abuse.

Until recently, bipolar disorder and chemical dependence were diagnosed separately and treated at various facilities. People diagnosed as bipolar were treated at mental health treatment centers or psychiatric clinics while abusing drugs or alcohol were referred to rehabilitation centers.

Depression in bipolar disorder may last for days or weeks, depending on your mood cycle. These periods are dangerous for Dual Diagnosis individuals, who have a higher risk of self-injury and suicide when they’re using drugs and alcohol during a low period. The symptoms of bipolar disorder aren’t always clearly defined.

Because it’s available and legal, alcohol is a very common substance that individuals with bipolar disorder. If a person struggles with bipolar disorder and substance abuse, they may have a Dual Diagnosis of bipolar and substance abuse. Being diagnosed with Dual Diagnosis or a co-occurring condition makes recovery very difficult.

The real reason why most people with bipolar disorder abuse substances is unknown even though substance abuse often aggravates the symptoms . People with no history of mental health illness or dormant symptoms of bipolar disorder can grow to exhibit the symptoms due to substance abuse.