Bipolar Disorder Research

The primary goal of a bipolar disorder research is to determine the genetic and other factors that cause people to experience manic and depressive moods. Most individuals know that bipolar disorder tends to run in families and involves many environmental factors. Research aims to enable doctors and patients to have a better understanding of mood swings, to establish better treatments, and to provide better medical advice to sufferers.

Bipolar disorder is a serious disorder of the brain. Abnormalities in the brain biochemistry are mainly responsible for the extreme shifts in mood, thought, energy, and behavior. Since people experience mood swings from high (mania) to low (depression), bipolar disorder is often referred to as "manic-depressive illness." The illness normally begins in late teenage years or early adulthood, but in some cases it emerges earlier. The major treatments for this disorder involve a combination of medications and psychotherapy.

There are a variety of research approaches. Among the major approaches are neuroscience studies, basic science approaches to brain and behavior, genetic investigations, epidemiological studies, and clinical research. Genetic investigations reveal the involvement of genetic factors in the transmission of bipolar disorder. These studies have concluded that in the cases of many patients, a family genetic disorder underlies bipolar disorder. Researchers anticipate that recognition of these defective genes can assist with better diagnostic procedures, treatments, and preventive interventions.

Brain imaging technologies, structural imaging technologies (e.g. magnetic resonance imaging), and functional neuro-imaging technologies (e.g. positron emission tomography) are now used by researchers to learn what goes wrong in the brain to produce this mental illness.

Research studies into treatment are dedicated to improving treatments for bipolar disorder. Many patients can be cured using currently available treatments. However, many important challenges remain. Some drugs work well for years and then slowly lose their efficiency. Clinical research is a good means for determining the best use of available treatments and treatment combinations.