Expert: Joyce A. Anthony - 6/19/2006

Question
I adopted a child from the DHS here in our state and her mother was BP.  I met her grandmother and I believe she was too.  I have been told the BPD is hereditary, is that true?  I got my daughter when she was 6 months old and she will be 5 in July.  I was told that I should have her tested when she is 12 and that they can't diagose it until a child is 12 years of age, yet my best friend just got a foster child that is 11 and she has been diagnosed with BPD.  Which is true?  She is a delightful child, but moody sometimes.  I just thought that it was just normal, but should I be watching for anything?  My personal opinion (which I have absolutely no foundation for) was that although BPD was hereditary, it was also environment also, is this true?

Thank you for your help.

Susie

Answer
Hi Susie:

Bipolar disorder is hereditary.  As a general rule, if one parent is bipolar there is a 25 percent chance each child will also be bipolar.  This increases to fifty percent if both parents are bipolar.  This also increases at a rate of five percent per each generation the disorder has gone through. With these rates, the chances that your daughter will have BPD is there, but it isn't a given.

Where environment comes into play is when a pre-disposition for bipolar disorder will show itself.  Sometimes it takes a stressful event to trigger the disorder. There are different degrees of the disorder.

Can a child be diagnosed at an early age---yes.  Recent years have seen a decrease in the number of doctors who believe this is only an adult disorder.  It appears whoever gave you the age as twelve is from the old school.  Many doctors will not label a young child because they do not want to place a child in a position of being judged by schools.  You are more likely to get a dx of "dysthymic disorder"--which translates into mood disorder--in a young child.

If there has been nothing to make you concerned about your daughter's moods, then I would suggest not to worry.  The first signs normally, but not always, are depression.  This is something we need to watch for in our children anyway.

For now, just enjoy what sounds like a precious little girl.  Know that the chances are there, but you will be able to see if something isn't "normal"

                          Joyce A. Anthony