mental health disorders
Bipolar Disorder
Causes of Bipolar Disorder
The exact cause of bipolar disorder is not known. Heredity is thought to be involved in the development of this disorder. Also, in people with bipolar disorder, certain substances the body produces, such as the neurotransmittersnorepinephrineor serotonin, may not be regulated normally. (Neurotransmitters are substances that nerve cells use to communicate.) Bipolar disorder sometimes begins after a stressful event, or such an event triggers another episode. However, no cause-and-effect relationship has been proved. The manic symptoms in bipolar disorder can occur for other reasons, such as certain illnesses, such as high levels of thyroid hormone ( Hyperthyroidism ). Also, manic episodes may be caused or triggered by medications (such as corticosteroids) or illicit drugs (such as 