Genes Associated with Bipolar Disorder

Stated in the John Hopkins Neurology and Neurosurgery journal “ Brain Waves” ( Potash , 2004 ) illustrates the idea which came from German psychiatrist Emil Kraipelin in the 1800’s that schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are distinct from each other by visualizing them as two trees in a forest of mental illness. As a result began the separation of the diseases that marks today's psychiatry. Potash also states that "If we knew the genes associated with psychotic symptoms, we'd have an anchor, a point to investigate their action in the brain." He then reminds us of the importance in regards to treatments in these disorders which would come after an understanding of the genes which cause these respected conditions ( Potash , 2004 ). Therefore in this article I will expound on current studies into the common genetic disorders of schizophrenia and bipolar.

According to ( Craddock et al., 2005 ) mental disorders are currently one of the major causes of death and also effect a variety of people around the globe. It is also known that genetic factors play a role by contributing to an individual by causing a lack of the ability to resist many of the common genetic disorders. Furthermore, the most severe psychiatric disorders of adult onset are called functional psychoses, which for a century have been subdivided into schizoprenia, and bipolar disorder. In addition ( Craddock et al., 2005 ) recognize the hours of research which are trying to pinpoint the susceptibility genes which cause schizophrenia and bipolar genetic disorders.

In reference to bipolar disorders, ( Craddock et al., 1999 ) define it as a complicated genetic disorder where the central attraction is a pathological disarrangement in mood that varies between two extremes one being an extreme state of happiness and the other being severe depression. They also note that troubles in thinking and in behavior as well as hallucinations are associated with bipolar disorders. The total number of cases of bipolar throughout an individuals life span is about 1% and it is similar in both male and females. Furthermore there seems to be a correlation among family members. Within the family ( Craddock et al., 1999 ) suggest that bipolar could be the result of a single gene, but they place a majority of the causes of bipolar disorders to the result of epitasis or a more complicated mechanisms.

In regards to schizophrenia ( Craddock et al., 2005 ) state it has a frequent occurrence in both sexes with a lifetime morbidity of 1%. Some common characteristics of schizophrenia include hallucinations, delusions, and altered cognitive functions. It seems that they are defining a contrast between the characterstics of schizophrenia which cause delusions to that of bipolar disorder which seems to affect the mood of an

individual. However, it seems that they do imply a linkage in these two disorders being that they both deal with a susceptible gene to the condition which seems to be involved in family members ( Craddock et al., 2005 ).

Much of current research has been involved in the genetic epidemiology of the diseases. The research studies for the schizophrenia were conducted among families, twins, and adoptions. The results revealed that individuals have and increase risk of the illness if their relatives are affected, and this increased risk is a result of genes and not that of a mutual relationship with the environment. Furthermore,