The idea of co-morbidity is that there are more than one disorder present at the same time in a patient. There are many other disorders that are commonly seen in those who are diagnosed as having bipolar disorder. Some of these disorders include substance abuse, anxiety disorders, and some medical disorders. The issue with substance abuse has been determined to be unclear. There are those who believe that someone is more likely to use substances when they are depressed and those who believe that someone would be more likely to use substances when they are manic.
There are many anxiety disorders that are seen in those who are suffering from bipolar disorder. These anxiety disorders include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and social phobia. These two disorders are commonly seen in those who have been diagnosed as having bipolar disorder. Some other disorders that have been associated with bipolar disorder are medical disorders. These medical disorders include thyroid disease, migraine headaches, heart disease, diabetes, obesity and even physical illness (NIMH 2008).
The overall idea is that the process of studying and looking at these co-occurring disorders is something that needs to happen in order for the researchers to be able to develop affective treatment against the combined disorders. In one study that was conducted by researchers from the University of Cincinnati, Biological Psychiatry Department. The researchers were able to determine that when someone was suffering from co-occurring disorders that their symptoms are further complicated by the disorders and problems that have been occurring.
These symptoms need to be thought of and looked at in different ways when they are co-occurring. The researchers also presented that there needs to be new forms of therapy to work with these two problems combined. In light of these situations there are many different things that need to be thought of and considered in the treatment of these co-occurring disorders (Freeman, Freeman, and McElroy 2002). Causes There are no specific causes for bipolar disorder that are known.
However there are some risk factors that are a part of what is going on. There is thought to be a genetic component and the idea is that something in the genetic pool might be a part of developing the onset of the mental illness. Those who have a parent or a sibling that has bipolar disorder are thought to be six times more likely to develop the illness themselves. There is also some type of connection to abnormal brain function and this mental illness (NIMH 2008).