Is Bipolar Disorder Caused By a Chemical Imbalance?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow a Chemical Imbalance Can Lead to Bipolar DisorderWhich Hormones Contribute to a Chemical Imbalance?How Can Genetics Influence a Chemical Imbalance?TreatmentCoping

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

How a Chemical Imbalance Can Lead to Bipolar Disorder

Which Hormones Contribute to a Chemical Imbalance?

How Can Genetics Influence a Chemical Imbalance?

Treatment

Coping

Close

A chemical imbalance can causebipolar disorder. Genetics is also a key contributor to bipolar disorder. Though this mental illness can be challenging and complicated for loved ones to understand, effective treatment can lead to a full and healthy life.

In turn, genetics and chemical imbalances are intrinsically linked to one another. We can think of neurotransmitters as the body’s messengers. They send information from one cell to the next, dictating essential functions like breathing andcognition.

In bipolar disorder, some genes regulate neurotransmission, meaning that these genes can be linked to chemical imbalances that then lead to the expression of bipolar disorder symptoms.

A chemical imbalance often doesn’t exist in isolation, and sex hormones like estrogen can contribute to an imbalance.

Estrogen

Evidence indicates that hormones like estrogen can play a role in the onset of bipolar disorder among birthing people. For example, reproductive events like pregnancy and childbirth may result in something calledpostpartum psychosis.

Researchers believe that lowestrogenlevels are the culprit for the chemical imbalance that triggers bipolar disorder symptoms like psychosis. In a 2014 study, researchers found a correlation between symptoms of bipolar disorder, including postpartum psychosis, and low estrogen levels. This same article found that symptoms subsided after receiving estrogen treatments.

If you or someone you love isexperiencing a reproductive event and suffers from bipolar disorder, it is worth discussing with your doctor if estrogen treatments could provide relief.

Neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitters (e.g., dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, etc.) are chemicals that helpneuronscommunicate.

For those with bipolar disorders, the ability of these neurotransmitters to function correctly is impaired. When these neurotransmitters are affected, sleep, sexual function, and mood can be impacted.

Below are some neurotransmitters that are affected in people with bipolar disorder.

How Neurotransmitters Work and What They Do

Some may wonder howgeneticsmight influence a chemical imbalance. Researchers suspect that biochemical abnormalities may be genetic, though they acknowledge that research is lacking on this subject.

As the literature on the genetics of chemical imbalances develops, there may be further evidence proving that genetics and chemical imbalances are inextricably linked in bipolar disorder.

Bipolar Disorder in Children

Bipolar Disorder Treatment

There is no cure for bipolar disorder, buttreatment optionscan manage symptoms, decrease the frequency and severity of episodes, and even lead to euthymic states (aka periods of time when no manic or depressive symptoms are present).

There are multiple options for treating bipolar disorder:

9 Things Not to Say to Someone Who Has Bipolar Disorder

Coping With Bipolar Disorder

Coping withbipolardisorder can be challenging, but there are ways to make it easier.

ReminderMost importantly, remember that bipolar disorder is a term that describes how yourbrainfunctions, but it isn’t the sum of who you are. You are much more than any one condition you may live with.

Reminder

Most importantly, remember that bipolar disorder is a term that describes how yourbrainfunctions, but it isn’t the sum of who you are. You are much more than any one condition you may live with.

Loving With Bipolar Disorder: A Letter to My Husband

7 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Maletic V, Raison C.Integrated neurobiology of bipolar disorder.Front Psychiatry. 2014;0. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2014.00098Meinhard N, Kessing LV, Vinberg M.The role of estrogen in bipolar disorder, a review.Nord J Psychiatry. 2014;68(2):81-87. doi: 10.3109/08039488.2013.775341National Institute of Mental Health.Understanding Psychosis.Sheffler ZM, Reddy V, Pillarisetty LS. Physiology, Neurotransmitters. [Updated 2022 May 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-.Lee JG, Woo YS, Park SW, Seog DH, Seo MK, Bahk WM. Neuromolecular Etiology of Bipolar Disorder: Possible Therapeutic Targets of Mood Stabilizers.Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci. 2022;20(2):228-239. doi:10.9758/cpn.2022.20.2.228Manji HK, Quiroz JA, Payne JL, et al.The underlying neurobiology of bipolar disorder.World Psychiatry. 2003;2(3):136-146. PMID: 16946919National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).Bipolar disorder.

7 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Maletic V, Raison C.Integrated neurobiology of bipolar disorder.Front Psychiatry. 2014;0. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2014.00098Meinhard N, Kessing LV, Vinberg M.The role of estrogen in bipolar disorder, a review.Nord J Psychiatry. 2014;68(2):81-87. doi: 10.3109/08039488.2013.775341National Institute of Mental Health.Understanding Psychosis.Sheffler ZM, Reddy V, Pillarisetty LS. Physiology, Neurotransmitters. [Updated 2022 May 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-.Lee JG, Woo YS, Park SW, Seog DH, Seo MK, Bahk WM. Neuromolecular Etiology of Bipolar Disorder: Possible Therapeutic Targets of Mood Stabilizers.Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci. 2022;20(2):228-239. doi:10.9758/cpn.2022.20.2.228Manji HK, Quiroz JA, Payne JL, et al.The underlying neurobiology of bipolar disorder.World Psychiatry. 2003;2(3):136-146. PMID: 16946919National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).Bipolar disorder.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Maletic V, Raison C.Integrated neurobiology of bipolar disorder.Front Psychiatry. 2014;0. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2014.00098Meinhard N, Kessing LV, Vinberg M.The role of estrogen in bipolar disorder, a review.Nord J Psychiatry. 2014;68(2):81-87. doi: 10.3109/08039488.2013.775341National Institute of Mental Health.Understanding Psychosis.Sheffler ZM, Reddy V, Pillarisetty LS. Physiology, Neurotransmitters. [Updated 2022 May 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-.Lee JG, Woo YS, Park SW, Seog DH, Seo MK, Bahk WM. Neuromolecular Etiology of Bipolar Disorder: Possible Therapeutic Targets of Mood Stabilizers.Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci. 2022;20(2):228-239. doi:10.9758/cpn.2022.20.2.228Manji HK, Quiroz JA, Payne JL, et al.The underlying neurobiology of bipolar disorder.World Psychiatry. 2003;2(3):136-146. PMID: 16946919National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).Bipolar disorder.

Maletic V, Raison C.Integrated neurobiology of bipolar disorder.Front Psychiatry. 2014;0. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2014.00098

Meinhard N, Kessing LV, Vinberg M.The role of estrogen in bipolar disorder, a review.Nord J Psychiatry. 2014;68(2):81-87. doi: 10.3109/08039488.2013.775341

National Institute of Mental Health.Understanding Psychosis.

Sheffler ZM, Reddy V, Pillarisetty LS. Physiology, Neurotransmitters. [Updated 2022 May 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-.

Lee JG, Woo YS, Park SW, Seog DH, Seo MK, Bahk WM. Neuromolecular Etiology of Bipolar Disorder: Possible Therapeutic Targets of Mood Stabilizers.Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci. 2022;20(2):228-239. doi:10.9758/cpn.2022.20.2.228

Manji HK, Quiroz JA, Payne JL, et al.The underlying neurobiology of bipolar disorder.World Psychiatry. 2003;2(3):136-146. PMID: 16946919

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).Bipolar disorder.

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