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Endophenotypes In Bipolar Disorder

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In addition to the likelihood of certain symptoms indicating a prodromal bipolar period, biological markers are important in understanding the biological aspect of the onset of BPD. Such biological markers include increased activity in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis which is associated with an increase in mood disturbances (Luby & Navsaria 2010). Bipolar Disorder has a known genetic substrate which is a precursor to a specific onset of BPD (Chang, Steiner, Dienes, Adleman, & Ketter 2003). Additionally, endophenotypes may help to identify individuals who are likely to go into prodromal states (Luby & Navsaria 2010). An endophenotype is a genetic epidemiological concept which seeks to separate behavioral symptoms into stable phenotypes …show more content…

And the ability to regulate emotional affect is a protuberant deficit in BPD (Luby & Navsaria 2010). Biological markers are becoming more prevalent in the identification of early onset Bipolar Disorder with genomic relevance to BPD; specifically, certain chromosomes and genes are being linked to Bipolar Disorder. Such genomic regions of specific relevance to BPD include 6q16-q22 and 22q11-q22 as well as chromosome 18 (Correll et al 2007). The genetic and endophenotypic approaches examine and study the relevant characteristics of genes, chromosomes, and phenotypes that act as biological markers of early onset Bipolar Disorder. The genetic and biological aspects of BPD are increasingly examined in research studies. Many experts now point to an underlying deficit in certain brain circuits and an issue with the balance of neurotransmitters as possible causes of BPD. With such knowledge, it is important to identify biological aspects and genomic traits that should be further examined to determine whether or not a patient likely has or will go on to develop Bipolar …show more content…

Also crucial to the examination and identification of a prodromal phase indicative of BPD is the heritability of BPD. Offspring of parents with Bipolar Disorder are more likely than offspring of normal parents to develop Bipolar Disorder. The genetic component of Bipolar Disorder increases the likelihood of the heritability of Bipolar Disorder which is 59% amongst offspring of parents with BPD (Lichtenstein, Yip, Björk, Pawitan, Cannon, Sullivan, & Hultman 2009). In a study conducted in Sweden by Lichtenstein, Yip, Björk, Pawitan, Cannon, Sullivan, & Hultman (2009), a cohort of children with relatives who have a diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder or Schizophrenia, respectively, were analyzed in terms of whether or not they developed the disorder. This cohort was obtained by linking two Swedish national registers which contain information about first-degree relatives. A hospital discharge register was also examined to obtain information about patients’ diagnoses and psychiatric admissions. Researchers found that Bipolar Disorder shared genetic effects in common with another disorder and non-shared environmental effects played a large role in the acquisition of BPD (Lichtenstein et al 2009). A genetic

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