What causes bipolar disorder?

Multifactorial: Bipolar disorder is a type of mood disorder. It's origin can be multifactorial, genetics plays a big role into it, so having a family member with bipolar disorder or other mood disorder puts you at a increase risk compared to the general population. Other things like biological factors such as history of drugs can presipitate bipolar like symptoms.

Multifactorial: So far no one has established a genetic link with bi-polar disorder, and many have tried. It is certainly true that it runs in families, but that can be a result of the family environment. There is a reasonable theory that the manic episodes are a way of combating the depressive feelings and that both are the result of chronic internal stress leading to depletion of neurotransmitters.

Bio, psycho, social: The causes of mood disorders arise over development from biology, psychology, and social factors. Similarly you need to make sure the treatment of mood utilizes all three. Are you making sure your biology is working optimally with exercise and avoiding trigger foods, taking meds? Are you keeping your psychology in check with therapy and mental training? Is your social life supportive or harmful?

Bipolar: Bipolar symptoms are caused by an imbalance of neurotransmitters in the synapses between nerve cells. What causes that imbalance is a genetic phenomena no one truly understands.

predisposition: Bipolar and mood diorders often run in families. Quite often there is a genetic predisposition that can be be triggered by trauma or other life events. More and more denovo cases are being seen which some believe may be impacted by environmental toxins.