Bipolar Disorder Brain Chemistry - What Is It and How Does it Help?

Bipolar Disorder Brain Chemistry - What Is It and How Does it Help?Bipolar disorder has a known genetic link, but scientists aren't really sure how much, if any, has to do with genetics and how much with the environment. The best that researchers can do is to discover what sort of environmental factors, if any, are important. Because mood swings are a way of life for many who suffer from bipolar disorder, the study of the subject is being conducted in earnest.People's mood swings are a major part of bipolar disorder, and one theory is that these erratic mood swings may be due to underlying changes in the brain chemistry. Specifically, there may be a malfunction of serotonin. Serotonin is a chemical that helps people regulate their moods. Unfortunately, too much serotonin may cause uncontrollable mood swings.Medications are one possible way to address the problem. Both propranolol and lithium have been approved by the FDA for treatment of mood swings, and they may provide some relief. However, these medications carry significant risks for both patients and doctors.Serotonin is involved in many of the body's functions, including those related to pain and mood. There are other chemicals in the brain that also play roles in mood regulation. Perhaps one or more of these chemicals is as involved in the symptom of bipolar disorder as serotonin is. But no one knows for sure.One new theory is that bipolar disorder is not just caused by a lack of brain chemistry, but rather is another facet of the larger nervous system disorder that includes depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, and post traumatic stress disorder. This theory is supported by a case study of a woman who was diagnosed with both major depression and bipolar disorder at the same time. Her biochemistries were found to be significantly different from normal. She had a deficiency of neurotransmitters and needed special attention to her bipolar disorder.If this serotonin deficiency syndrome is indeed relate d to bipolar disorder, then the treatment is similar to that of patients with depression. Lithium and other antidepressants are used to relieve depression and manic symptoms. Antidepressants have to be taken at regular intervals, and they must be combined with adequate sleep. Lithium must be taken on an as-needed basis and should not be taken with alcohol or any drug that alters its function.Some patients with bipolar disorder will need specialized treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy. These treatments may help to restore the brain chemistry necessary for proper mood regulation. In some cases, these therapies will need to be coupled with some form of medication to bring the condition under control.