Is Someone With An Alcohol Or Substance Abuse Problem At Increased Risk Of Developing Bipolar Disorder?

— -- Question: Is someone with an alcohol or substance abuse problem at increased risk of developing bipolar disorder?

Answer: In a person who has the vulnerability to develop bipolar illness, it is certainly quite possible that alcohol or substance abuse may influence the timing of the onset of bipolar illness.

Similarly, the abuse of alcohol or other substances during the course of illness can markedly increase the malignancy of illness -- both increasing the number of episodes a person has, as well as the severity of those episodes.

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