Is Bipolar Disorder Hereditary, and If I Have It Should I Be Concerned About My Children?

Is Bipolar Disorder Hereditary, and If I Have It Should I Be Concerned About My Children? (0:48)

Bipolar disorder does have a genetic component and can run in families. In this video, Tarique Perera, MD, a psychiatrist with Contemporary Care of Connecticut, discusses the hereditary nature of bipolar disorder.

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Yes. So there's a genetic link, and sort of a Bipolar 1 and Bipolar 2. The belief, at least from what I understand, is that Bipolar 1 is linked to more Bipolar 1, and Bipolar 2 is linked to more Bipolar 2 and depression, and depression atypical features. Somebody with a history of bipolar is, there's a higher risk of their child having bipolar than somebody with no history of bipolar, but it's not likely.

So the risk is 5-10% or less, but not zero.