AboutJoyce A. Anthony Expertise I can answer questions dealing with bipolar disorder in a parent, yourself or your child. I can give suggestions and insight into what can be expected of many medications for bipolar disorder. My most extensive knowledge is in children with bipolar disorder. Here I can give advice on dealing with daily events, schools, medication and professionals.
Experience I am the daughter of a bipolar/schizophrenic parent, am bipolar myself and am raising a bipolar child. I have a background in Psychology from Gannon University, have run several parenting classes for those parenting bipolar children and have had extensive experience with medications, the school system, homeschooling a special needs child, dealing with counselors, doctors and other professionals in the mental health field. I write for a bipolar website, with the focus on educating the child with bipolar disorder on his/her illness.
Question Hi. I am wondering what the risk of giving a baby bipolar is. I know this guy and both his parents seem to have a mental disorder bipolar/schizophrenia. His sister (17) also is showing serious signs of bipolar. He has absolutely no symptoms and is healthy - but is a diabetic. My birth mom is bipolar/schizophrenic and so are 4 of her five sisters, possibly her mother, and I don't know beyond that, as I am adopted. I know nothing about my birth father. I have no symptoms of a mental disorder, either and am healthy except for ragweed allergies.
What would the chances be, if we were to get married and have children, of our children being bipolar? Thank you so much.
Answer Hello Concerned:
Seeing that bipolar disorder is present on both sides (even though neither you or your guy seem to have inherited it) the genes are there. This creates a fifty percent chance of any children you two have wil be bipolar. Addding five percent for each generation, that is at least another ten percent chance.
That being said, any children the two of you have together would have a sixty percent chance of being bipolar.
Joyce A. Anthony
