If like me, you suffer from bipolar disorder, you will be aware of the fact that the illness tends to run in families, and are therefore worried about the possibility that your children may inherit the disorder.
Twin studies have shown that if one twin is affected by bipolar disorder, the other one has about 57% chance to suffer from the illness if we are talking about identical twins, and 14% if they are fraternal twins. Twin studies have often been the object of criticism because it is believed that environmental conditions play a role as well. For that reason, geneticists have looked to studies about adopted twins brought up in different households, where the matter of similar upbringing is reduced. The results concluded that the rates did not differ significantly, therefore the genetic link is strong.
Here are the dreaded statistics you were looking for. Children that have one parent with bipolar disorder are 14 times more likely than members of the general population to have bipolar-like symptoms themselves (the absolute probability being between 15% and 30%), and are 2 to 3 times more likely to suffer from an anxiety or mood disorder, like depression.
If both parents have bipolar disorder the chances skyrocket, as they are 3.6 times more likely to suffer from bipolar disorder than children with only one parent with the condition.
However, these numbers bear careful interpretation as they don't tell the full story. While there is indeed a clear genetic link as numerous studies have shown, the awareness surrounding the illness in families with bipolar patients may mean that cases in such family groups are diagnosed while in a regular family are not. Identifying the condition as early as possible is crucial for applying corrective treatment and is associated with a better progression of the illness.
Now, you may have read the above, and still have doubts about having children. Raising kids is one of the most gratifying experiences in life, and all this should not deter you shall you decide to go ahead with your plan. If it turns out that some of them end up being affected, remember that there are much worse things than being bipolar, as this condition responds well to medication and can be managed properly by modern medicine. It is also likely that while your children grow up, new advances in genetics lead to better treatments as we are still in the early ages of this promising science.
José Pérez is an advocate regarding mental health issues, and hast most recently been involved in fighting stigma related to bipolar disorder and other conditions. Please visit this
bipolar disorder web.
