Eric Lin

Bipolar Disorder: How the Diathesis Stress Model Can Inform Prevention and Treatment

Started July 15, 2025

Abstract or project description

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition, characterized by depressive and manic episodes. Individuals with this disorder face significant adverse effects, including reduced life expectancy of about 8-15 years and higher suicide rates. The onset of bipolar disorder is a combination of both genetic and environmental factors and one such method of understanding this is through the Diathesis Stress Model. This is seen when examining stress, its effects on the body’s biological processes, and how it interacts with underlying genetic predisposition. Specifically, how genetic variations in the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis interact with stress, which can lead to improper function. The average age of onset for bipolar disorder is around 20, possibly due to the unique environmental stressors present around this age range. While treatment targeting biological factors are beneficial and effective, they have side effects that lead to low retention rates among users. Thus, better understanding of how the Diathesis Stress Model can be applied to bipolar disorder can improve understanding of environmental factors that contribute to the disorder and inform both prevention and treatment.