According to a recent press release, a new study found that there is a genetic variation behind the troubles children with pediatric bipolar disorder may face with his or her body clock. The circadian rhythm is used to regulate sleep. One of the symptoms of this disorder is a lack of sleep leading to or caused by manic episodes. This gene variation also may explain mood swings, as well.
Lack of sleep is one of the earliest signs of bipolar disorder in children and is one of the primary ways doctors can determine if the child has bipolar disorder or something like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
This is particularly interesting news for doctors, parents and those with this disorder. If this study’s findings hold up, this could mean more targeted treatment with better outcomes. Currently, trial and error with medication and therapy is the best course of treatment.
Dr. Alexander Niculescu, of the Indiana University School of Medicine,, who co-authored the study was quoted as saying “It will be necessary to verify our association results in other independent samples and to continue to study the relationship between RORB, other clock genes and bipolar disorder.”
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