The Role of Attachment and Trauma in Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar Disorder is a chronic and debilitating illness which impacts the diagnosed, their loved ones, and society as a whole. While incidence of BPD continues to increase, effectiveness of medication decreases leaving those with BPD a bleak outlook for their future. Presently, there is not a highly effective way to treat BPD that allows full remission of symptoms. This study sought to examine the role of attachment styles, emotion regulation, and childhood trauma in the development and course of the illness. Searches were conducted to locate published research in the area of BPD, its symptoms, and co-occurring disorders and their relationship with attachment styles, emotion regulation, and incidence of trauma in childhood. Alternative explanations were sought regarding heritability and high familial incidence of the disorder.