Psychosocial Factors Are Important in the Genesis and Maintenance of Bipolar Illness

Although the genetic contribution to bipolar illness is substantial, childhood adversities and adult stressors have also been implicated in the onset and recurrence of the illness, but these studies have typically been cross-sectional and involved treatment-seeking patients. These researchers used longitudinal data from a large, population-based study to examine these two factors in 811 people who experienced manic episodes during a 3-year follow-up (new onset, 631; recurrent episodes, 180).

Childhood physical and sexual abuse and adulthood stressors (personal loss; interpersonal or financial problems) independently contributed to risk for both onset and recurrence of mania. Among people with adulthood stressors, childhood physical abuse inc…