The role of genetic factors in psychiatric disorders has received much attention recently. Some evidence is available to support the possibility of familial transmission of both bipolar disorder and alcoholism (Merikangas and Gelernter 1990; Berrettini et al. 1997). Common genetic factors may play a role in the development of this comorbidity, but this relationship is complex (Tohen et al. 1998). Preisig and colleagues (2001) conducted a family study of mood disorders and alcoholism by evaluating 226 people with alcoholism with and without a mood disorder as well as family members of those people. The researchers found that there was a greater familial association between alcoholism and bipolar disorder (odds ratio of 14.5) than between alcoholism and unipolar depression (odds ratio of 1.7). A positive family history of bipolar disorder or alcoholism is an important risk factor for offspring.
The Role of Neuroplasticity in Mental Health Treatment
Yes, alcohol can trigger episodes of bipolar disorder by disrupting neurotransmitter balance and mood regulation, increasing the risk of manic or depressive episodes. Chronic alcohol consumption can exacerbate the symptoms of bipolar disorder, increase hospitalisation and reduce the effectiveness of treatment. Chronic alcohol consumption over a long period of time impairs the brain’s ability to control emotions well. Alcohol-induced mood swings can make it difficult to distinguish between substance-induced mood swings and bipolar episodes. The unpredictability of the effects of alcohol complicates treatment strategies.
How Family Dynamics Affect Substance Abuse and Mental Health
The highs and lows of bipolar disorder are very different from ordinary mood swings, says Martha Sajatovic, M.D., a psychiatrist at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland. People who have a parent or sibling with bipolar disorder have an increased chance of having the disorder themselves, but it can also emerge when there’s no genetic link. Formerly known as manic depression, bipolar disorder affects about 7.1 million adult Americans, or about 2.8 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. These types may include mania, or hypomania, which is less extreme than mania, and depression. When you become depressed, you may feel sad or hopeless and lose interest or pleasure in most activities.
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Alcohol or illicit substance consumption amplifies both symptoms of manic and depressive episodes. To someone going through a manic episode and therefore feeling impulsive and irritable, alcohol can be what pushes them over the edge and puts them in risky situations. Alcohol can also lead to what is known as a bipolar crash and contribute to depressive episodes. It’s fairly straightforward to understand why alcohol consumption magnifies symptoms of bipolar disorder. Consuming high amounts of alcohol can make a person irritable, emotional, or even aggressive. On the other hand, this phase of alcohol impact is followed by a low phase characterized by fatigue and feeling blue.
Conditions that occur at the same time
The cause of bipolar disorder isn’t fully understood, but it’s believed to be a mix of genetic, biochemical, and environmental factors. Unfortunately, people with bipolar disorder are at a higher risk of developing substance use disorders, especially alcohol abuse. The interplay between bipolar disorder and substance use disorders (SUD) presents considerable challenges in treatment.
- Further, personalized medicine approaches based on genetic, neurobiological, and psychosocial factors are still in early development.
- With treatment, therapy, support systems, and lifestyle strategies, there’s a wide range of tools to help you thrive.
- In this framework, alcohol might be used to self-medicate the subtle ups and downs.
- This high rate of comorbidity suggests a strong link between the two conditions, raising questions about the nature of their relationship and the underlying mechanisms at play.
- Co-occurring bipolar disorder and substance use disorders (SUDs) are alarmingly common, affecting a significant portion of individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
Health Conditions
- The risk of toxic lithium levels is higher if you drink too much, as alcohol causes dehydration.
- Both tend to occur more frequently in people who have a family member with the condition.
- Other reasons for alcohol consumption include social pressure and attempts to deal with stress.
- Up to 25 percent of all bipolar patients are over age 60, and that number is expected to grow as the world’s population ages.
- If you have bipolar disorder, you are at a much greater risk of developing alcohol use disorder.
- Treating co-occurring BD and SUD requires a dual diagnosis approach, integrating therapeutic techniques and medications tailored for both conditions.
While bipolar disorder and alcohol abuse are both harmful on their own, when they occur together, the challenges can be even more significant. People with co-occurring bipolar disorder and alcohol abuse may experience longer and more difficult alcohol withdrawal, higher treatment costs, impaired daily functioning, and poorer overall health. Self-medication for bipolar disorder can lead to significant risks to both physical and mental health. Firstly, those who self-medicate with alcohol or illegal drugs are at risk of liver damage, as these substances are metabolised and processed by the liver. Individuals facing both bipolar disorder and substance use disorders (SUDs) often endure a host of challenging symptoms. Common experiences include severe mood fluctuations, which can shift rapidly between manic highs and depressive lows.
Stress management is particularly important for people with severe mental health issues such as bipolar disorder. When lacking healthy techniques to do so, people may turn to alcohol as a way to provide short-term relief. Despite limited high-quality clinical trial data specifically for bipolar and SUD co-treatment, evidence suggests that integrated treatment strategies yield better outcomes than treating each disorder separately. This requires collaboration across healthcare disciplines, ensuring that medication management aligns with psychosocial interventions. Hypomanic episodes last at least four days and involve an unusually high mood or extreme changes in how the person feels and interacts with the world around them.
Many find that a whole-foods or clean-eating approach supports metabolic health. Regular physical activity — even gentle movement — can ease stress and improve sleep. Practices such as meditation, yoga, or deep breathing may also promote calmness and emotional balance. While medication and good sleep habits are key pillars, they’re just part of the picture. Therapy, lifestyle choices, and an understanding of your personal mood triggers can also play a crucial role in helping you feel more balanced.
Specific numbers for AUD and BD are not available, but for affective disorders (AD) in general and SUD, criminal behavior has been observed twice as frequent in AD with SUD compared to AD without (63). The same study reports on a 1-year prevalence of 5.7% for substance abuse (except nicotine) according to DSM-IV criteria. Three percent fulfilled 5 things to know about bipolar disorder and alcohol use criteria for alcohol dependence and 1.8% for abuse (4).
This high rate of comorbidity suggests a strong link between the two conditions, raising questions about the nature of their relationship and the underlying mechanisms at play. The evidence for Assertive community treatment (AST) that has been examined in two RCTs is inconclusive, with one study showing a reduction of alcohol use, the other not when compared to standard clinical case management. Both studies included also patients with other major mental health disorders, such as MDD and schizophrenia; thus, both do not supply information exclusively about changes in the course of BD (96, 97). If you have bipolar disorder and alcohol use disorder or another addiction, you have what’s known as a dual diagnosis. You may need to see a mental health professional who is an expert in treating both disorders.