Geron M E, Cadoret R J
J Fam Pract. 1977 Mar;4(3):453-6.
Bipolar affective disorder (manic-depressive disease) is a mental disturbance characterized by phases of both depression and mania. Mania is essential to the diagnosis and is characterized by elevated mood, flight of ideas, and increased psychomotor activity. Current psychiatric literature not only shows that this disease is familial but has also demonstrated, through linkage studies, that an X-linked dominant mode of inheritance adequately explains the strong prevalence of bipolar affective disorder in some families. The family discussed here shows many of the known clinical aspects of bipolar affective disorder. It serves as an example consistent with the X-linked dominant mode of inheritance. Knowledge of the genetic background of this disease aids the family physician by helping to identify members of the family likely to have acquired this condition. The family physician can then look for future problems in them and in their offspring, leading to earlier diagnosis and more effective management. Thus, a member of a bipolar family with supposed unipolar illness (depression only) might be better served with the prophylactic use of lithium carbonate because of his likelihood of possessing a bipolar genotype. The prophylactic use of this drug has been shown effective in reducing the frequency, duration, and intensity of both manic and depressive mood swings.
双相情感障碍（躁郁症）是一种以抑郁和躁狂阶段为特征的精神障碍。躁狂是诊断的关键，其特征为情绪高涨、思维奔逸和精神运动性活动增加。当前的精神病学文献不仅表明这种疾病具有家族性，还通过连锁研究证明，X连锁显性遗传模式足以解释双相情感障碍在某些家族中的高发病率。这里讨论的这个家族展现了双相情感障碍许多已知的临床特征。它是一个与X连锁显性遗传模式相符的例子。了解这种疾病的遗传背景有助于家庭医生识别可能已患此病的家族成员。家庭医生随后可以在这些成员及其后代中寻找未来可能出现的问题，从而实现更早的诊断和更有效的治疗。因此，一个患有疑似单相疾病（仅抑郁）的双相情感障碍家族成员，由于其具有双相基因型的可能性，可能更适合预防性使用碳酸锂。已证明预防性使用这种药物可有效减少躁狂和抑郁情绪波动的频率、持续时间和强度。
