Bipolar Disorder is a serious, but treatable, illness characterized by extreme fluctuations in mood, ranging from depressive lows to manic highs. The actual cause of the disease is unknown, making a diagnosis very frustrating for both the patient and their family. One possible cause is thought to be a chemical imbalance in the brain. Genetics also contribute to the probability that one may develop bipolar disorder. The general idea is that the disorder can be inherited through abnormal genes that produce too little or too much of a certain chemical to elicit the correct response to certain events. This might explain why manic or depressive episodes are sometimes triggered by stressful life events, though it is hard to say whether the imbalances are a cause of the mood disorder a result of it.

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