Expert: Ivan Goldberg, M.D. - 7/3/2010

Question
My husband and I have are adopting. We have been introduced to a young 23 year old woman who is bi polar (does not take meds and sounds normal when we talk)her father is bipolar and committed suicide when her mother was about to abort the now pregnant young girl)her grand father also bipolar. At age 6 she was told of the family drama including the only reason she is here today is due to the grandmother paying the mother not to abort. soon after she was diagnosed as bipolar. The birth father of the child she carries is unipolar (he is adopted and has unresolved adoption issues)he has tried many meds none which seemed to help him. What are the chances of the unborn child? Are the chances worse with 2 parents being polar. Can this all be environmental, emotionally controlled? The birth mom seems sooooo normal. My husband and I are both emotionally sound but we are scared to adopt this baby and need help making a wise decision.

Answer
Hi Shawn . . .

A child born to a mother with a strong family history of bipolar disorder and a father with unipolar depression has at least a 50% likelihood of developing a major mood disorder at some time in his/her life. Children with such a genetic background are also at increased risk for anxiety and eating disorders.

There are many adoption studies involving the impact of heredity and environment on the development of psychopathology. Such studies demonstrate that even the most idyllic environment cannot negate the effects of a heavy loading genes associated with the development of psychopathology.

Best regards . . .

Ivan
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%