Posted by Ron Hill on June 8, 2003, at 10:49:20
In reply to Re: Lamictal success stories for Ritch, posted by starlight on June 5, 2003, at 15:15:21
Starlight,
> I'm actually very interested in knowing how many people diagnosed with Bipolar suffered from abusive childhoods? Anyone have any information on that?
I don't have any formal research data, but for some time now I have been of the opinion that childhood trauma (abuse) is indeed correlated with the onset of bipolar disorder. My opinion has been formed by noticing that an inordinately high percentage of the bipolar patients that I talk to have a history of childhood abuse. I don't have scientific data, just an opinion based on personal observation.
If the correlation does indeed exist, the question then becomes does the actual abuse trigger the onset of the bipolar disorder (in those children with the preexisting genetic predisposition), or instead, is the correlation merely a reflection of the fact that the parents of abused children have a higher-than-normal (statistically speaking) incidence of bipolar disorder, and therefore, the children were genetically predetermine for the onset of bipolar disorder with or without the abuse.
In either case, the mental and physical abuse of children is horrific and we as a society must do all we can to stop it.
-- Ron
poster:Ron Hill
thread:99976
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030604/msgs/232367.html