A member asked:

Can bipolar disorder be passed genetically to my child if i become pregnant?

13 doctors weighed in across 2 answers

Yes: There is a genetic association but it doesn't always occur.

Answered 7/5/2012

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Dr. Daniel Anderson answered

Specializes in Psychiatry

Yes: Bipolar illness is currently felt to be "oligogenic", which means 2 or more genes, working together, contribute to produce the illness. The approximate risk for a child of a parent with bipolar illness developing bipolar illness themselves is about 10x the risk for the general population.Keep in mind bipolar is a "spectrum ilnness" with greatly varying levels of impairment from mild to severe.

Answered 10/4/2016

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