Posted by Steeler Tookahn on July 28, 2000, at 3:22:50
In reply to Good evidence-what counts, posted by Sgbt5 on July 27, 2000, at 14:16:31
> I have been reading other groups and web pages that say
> that there is _no_ good evidence that bipolar disorder
> exists. Some of these people are very learned, and
> teach in universities. But I think there is evidence for
> bipolar illness because people with family members who have it
> are more likely to get it. I think that shows evidence of
> a genetic risk (although having a gene may not mean
> getting the illness). Has anyone seen anything good
> on the net that addresses this question? Do you have
> information on this from other sources? Thank you.Sgbt5,
I'm not sure if I understand what these people are trying to say. Are they suggesting that bi-polar disorder does not exist at all, or are they contesting a genetic link?
I don't think too many researchers really dispute the validity of the disorder, but the search for a responsible gene has proved illusive -my guess is that a specific gene (or genes) will eventually be discovered.
I think most researchers still believe there is a genetic pre-dispostion to the illness but there is a lot of debate going on as to how much of a predictor for the illness a family history portends. I think what you may be reading about is a re-newed focus in learning what external influences might trigger the disease in susceptible individuals.Steeler
poster:Steeler Tookahn
thread:41519
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000717/msgs/41558.html