Most people like it when they see their own traits passed on to their children, but not when it comes to a disease or disorder. Unfortunately, several studies suggest that bipolar disorder, along with many other mood disorders, is passed on through families. This appears to be true even if the child is adopted by parents who don't have the disorder. Most people who have the disorder have at least one relative with the disorder.

That said, the relationship between behavior and genetics is not clear. A child is much more likely to develop bipolar disorder if both of his or her parents have it, but this outcome is not guaranteed. In fact, the overall risk is still relatively low. Similarly, children need to have bipolar parents to end up with the disorder.

Other factors that influence whether or not you will develop the disorder include physical illnesses, sleep disruption, and stress.

To see just how non-deterministic the relationship is, it's helpful to understand that having one bipolar parent only gives you a 4% to 15% chance of getting the disorder. If your parents don't have the disorder, however, you have a 0% to 2% chance. If both of your parents have the disorder, you chances of developing it are 3.5 times higher.

The good news is that even if you end up with bipolar disorder, there are counseling and prescription drug options. Medications, in combination with cognitive behavioral therapy, have the power to revolutionize your life and reduce many of the symptoms of the disorder.

To begin with, if you want to reduce the odds that your child may end up with the disorder, healthy habits are a must. Drugs and alcohol should be avoided. Exercise and a healthy diet are also important contributors. Finally, one of the most overlooked problems is the lack of a consistent sleep schedule. Sleep deprivation and major life stress strongly increase the risk of the disorder occurring.

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