The following is an Editorial Resource from YourTotalHealth.

Reviewed by:  Steven A. King, M.D.

 Studies show that 80 to 90 percent of people who suffer from bipolar disorder have relatives with some form of depression, according to Mental Health America, a national nonprofit organization that provides advocacy, education, research and services to people with mental health issues. Clearly, doctors need to know your history to help make an accurate diagnosis. Since the term “bipolar disorder” wasn’t generally used a generation or two ago, (people were diagnosed with “manic depression” or just “depression”) you may need to ask more targeted questions when tracing your family medical history:

• Did any of my relatives commit suicide?
  
  
• Were any of my relatives depressed?
  
  
• Did any of my relatives have any social phobias? Were they afraid to leave the house? Were they excessively nervous or anxious? Did they ever have panic attacks?
  
  
• Were any of my relatives ever diagnosed as “psychotic?” Did they ever hallucinate?
  
  
• Were any of my relatives hospitalized for psychiatric reasons?
  
  
• Were any of my relatives known to be temperamental, aggressive, abusive or violent?
  
  
• Were any of my relatives known to do things excessively, such as gamble, go on extreme shopping sprees or act impulsively in ways that hurt their relationships or their careers?
  
  
• Did any of my relatives abuse alcohol or other drugs?

“Yes” answers to any of these questions could indicate a higher risk for bipolar disorder, especially if they occurred in a first-degree relative, such as a parent, sibling or child. Not only should you tell your doctor, but your doctor should take a detailed family history and ask lots of questions about what your relatives might have had, since that's a big part of how a diagnosis is made. If one of your parents has bipolar disorder, it raises your own risk for the condition by about 10 to 30 percent. If both parents have the condition, your risk jumps to between 50 and 75 percent. The risks are less if the illness showed up only in “second degree” relatives such as aunts, uncles and cousins, but is still higher than in people who have no family history of bipolar disorder It's important to share family history with other family members so that they can get evaluated if they think they might have the illness, too.

What's Next: Symptoms to Watch for

• Be Aware of Triggers for Manic or Depressive Episodes
  
• Does Bipolar Put You at Increased Risk for Other Conditions?
  
• Prevent Future Episodes of Mania or Depression

Review Date: May 01, 2009