What is the role of genetics and environment with bipolar disorder?

Genetic and environmental factors may play a role in bipolar disorder. HealthMaker Jeffrey Borenstein, MD, a psychiatrist at the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, talks about the importance of managing those factors we can control.

Transcript

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I would say avoid stress. And yes, please do, but that's much, much easier said than done. [MUSIC PLAYING]

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The role of genetics and environment in bipolar, again, we're beginning to better understand it.

00:19

As is the case with other illnesses, psychiatric illness and other illnesses, such as diabetes and heart disease,

00:25

there's an interplay between a genetic or an inherent vulnerability that a person may have,

00:34

or susceptibility that the person has, and environmental factors that may bring it on.

00:40

So it's important in terms of what we can control are the environmental factors. So it's important that people have good sleep habits

00:50

and sleep properly, exercise properly. It's important that people handle stress.

00:56

We all have stress, so I would say avoid stress. And yes, please do, but that's much, much

01:03

easier said than done. But how the person manages stress is probably as important as avoiding stress

01:10

since we're all going to have stress. So all of those factors together can help a person and may actually minimize the risk of developing bipolar

01:21

disorder. And if a person has bipolar disorder, taking those steps can minimize the risk of having another episode.