Expert: Joyce A. Anthony - 1/27/2009

Question
QUESTION: My boyfriend is bipolar and it runs in his family, both of his parents are bipolar, his mom's side of the family is all bipolar. i know his dad was but otherwise i don't know anything about his dads family. I am not bipolar and i don't know of anyone in my family history being bipolar. Eventually i hope to have kids with him, but we are worried. what are the chances of our kids being bipolar? You can barley tell he is bipolar, i never new until he told me, i never really noticed it in his relatives either, except for his half brother. his mother said we will have kids that will act just like his half brother and im afraid. Should i be worried about having a bipolar child?

ANSWER: Hi Jennifer:

First the statistics:  With one parent being bipolar, a bay has 25 percent chance of also being bipolar-and this increases five percent with each generation it goes back.

That said, you mentioned you would never have known your boyfriend was bipolar if he hadn't told you. Yes, the chances are increased that any children will also be bipolar, but that does not mean they will be doomed to a life of disorder.  It is possible for a bipolar child to live a life as well as any child without bipolar disorder.

Be aware that the chance is there, but I would not suggest you choose not to have a child with the chances being what they are at this point.

         Joyce A. Anthony

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: does that mean theres at least a 35% chance or greater that the kids will have it?

Answer
Yes, Jennifer, that is correct. Each child will have at least a 35 percent chance of being bipolar.  However, that also means there is a 65 percent chance they won't.  Also keep in mind that the majority of those with bipolar disorder are like your boyfriend--not readily showing any major symptoms and able to live normal lives.  Do not allow his mother to scare you.  His half-brother may have more genes (from the non-shared parent)that increase his symptoms. Each individual expresses any symptoms uniquely and there are many with bipolar disorder who are very successful in life.

         Joyce A. Anthony