Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Bi-Polar: Born-With or Developed

lurkette · 06-02-2004, 05:50 AM

Born with or developed? Yes and yes.

It's not a simple equation - there are people who are born with different levels of genetic predisposition to bipolar and other disorders, but to have those genes "activated" requires certain experiences. So you might have someone with a very heavily loaded genotype, and no matter what their experiences, they're highly likely to develop a disorder. But you might have someone with a moderate genetic predisposition go through the same experiences as the first guy and not develop a disorder. It's not an X+Y=Z equation, it's an IF X AND Y BUT NOT Z AND A, THEN Disorder.

Most mental disorders are "comorbid" - that is, they happen with other disorders. It's rare to find clinical depression without some form of anxiety occurring with it. The DSM (diagnostic manual of psychiatrists) changes periodically, and certain diagnostic criteria fade in or out depending on the state of current research, the cultural milieu (homosexuality used to be classified as a disorder), and the political scene (big push from parents to have autism and ADHD classified in certain ways, big push from mental health advocates to have depression classified a certain way, etc.) Because psychiatry is a shifting field and a fuzzy science, medicating disorders is a tricky business. Some physicians are badly trained and throw pills at things as a first resort. I think medication can be a valuable tool in treating mental illness (and I've been on Paxil for more than a year now) but I think it ought to be temporary whenever possible, and just one tool in a more holistic arsenal. Too often people with mild disorders just take the pills without working on the underlying cognitive and emotional issues, and if you stop taking the pills the symptoms (surprise!) come back. Now, that said, there are some cases where there really is a permanent chemical imbalance that may need to be treated permanently with meds. Nobody should be judged for doing the best they can to stay healthy.

06-02-2004, 05:50 AM	#4 (permalink)
lurkette My future is coming on Moderator Emeritus Location: east of the sun and west of the moon	Born with or developed? Yes and yes. It's not a simple equation - there are people who are born with different levels of genetic predisposition to bipolar and other disorders, but to have those genes "activated" requires certain experiences. So you might have someone with a very heavily loaded genotype, and no matter what their experiences, they're highly likely to develop a disorder. But you might have someone with a moderate genetic predisposition go through the same experiences as the first guy and not develop a disorder. It's not an X+Y=Z equation, it's an IF X AND Y BUT NOT Z AND A, THEN Disorder. Most mental disorders are "comorbid" - that is, they happen with other disorders. It's rare to find clinical depression without some form of anxiety occurring with it. The DSM (diagnostic manual of psychiatrists) changes periodically, and certain diagnostic criteria fade in or out depending on the state of current research, the cultural milieu (homosexuality used to be classified as a disorder), and the political scene (big push from parents to have autism and ADHD classified in certain ways, big push from mental health advocates to have depression classified a certain way, etc.) Because psychiatry is a shifting field and a fuzzy science, medicating disorders is a tricky business. Some physicians are badly trained and throw pills at things as a first resort. I think medication can be a valuable tool in treating mental illness (and I've been on Paxil for more than a year now) but I think it ought to be temporary whenever possible, and just one tool in a more holistic arsenal. Too often people with mild disorders just take the pills without working on the underlying cognitive and emotional issues, and if you stop taking the pills the symptoms (surprise!) come back. Now, that said, there are some cases where there really is a permanent chemical imbalance that may need to be treated permanently with meds. Nobody should be judged for doing the best they can to stay healthy. __________________ "If ten million people believe a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing." - Anatole France