Expert: Joyce A. Anthony - 11/16/2007

Question
I am married to a man who has a family history of bipolar disorder. His mother was diagnosed bipolar when he was a young child and his maternal grandfather exhibits the same symptoms. His sister does as well.

We are trying to get pregnant right now and I am concerned that our child will develop bipolar. I have read that having multiple generations of bipolar increases the child's likelihood quite a bit and that having a parent with bipolar also does.

My husband is not diagnosed bipolar and does not show the same severe symptoms as his family members. However, he does have a quick temper at times and is very focused and driven to the point of not sleeping alot. He functions well though, is hardworking and happy, and gets along well with others.

Please help me understand what the likelihood of my child being bipolar is!

Thanks,

Kris

Answer
Hi Kris:

You have a very logical question.  The likelihood of a child being bipolar is indeed related to genetics.  Here is how it stands:
With one parent being bipolar, the chances are 25%.
With two parents, the chances are fifty percent.
For each generation the disorder is present, another five percent is added.

Therefore, it appears, from the information you have related, that any child you have will only have a ten percent chance of being born bipolar--a very low chance indeed.
              Joyce A. Anthony