Hypothesis on the origin of bipolar disorder

[Steve81]

This hypothesis is based on personal experience and reflection. The hypothesis is thus:

Bipolar disorder is caused by an overdeveloped affect of interest-excitement. This leads to habits which others find annoying / odd (stuttering, interruptions, etc.), which in turn leads to social rejection and depression. The individual learns to cope, developing a more reserved, euthymic presentation. The cycle repeats as the individual gains self-esteem and attempts to express themselves again. The individual will also be more prone to depression than other individuals due to low self-esteem.

For discussion: are there any logical flaws that you can note in this hypothesis? Suggested treatments if my hypothesis is considered a plausible explanation for bi-polar disorder? 

Thank you in advance for your kind participation in this thread!

Edited August 17, 2023 by Steve81

[Genady]

It needs more data than personal experience and reflection.

[Steve81]

2 minutes ago, Genady said:

It needs more data than personal experience and reflection.

That’s why it’s a hypothesis 😆

[Genady]

3 minutes ago, Steve81 said:

That’s why it’s a hypothesis 😆

Of course. But to make a next step, more data are needed.

Edited August 17, 2023 by Genady

[Steve81]

1 minute ago, Genady said:

Of course. But to make a next step, more data is needed.

I understand. I’m seeking to see if it’s a plausible explanation based on the logic I used, i.e. are there flaws in the logic I’m missing before I proceed to the next steps. No point in continuing if there’s a fundamental flaw in my analysis.

 

Basically, instead of troubleshooting a computer, I’m troubleshooting myself 😛

[iNow]

I think it’s caused by using the wrong type of toilet paper. This assertion rests on the exact same footing as your OP. 

It’s a wild ass guess. It’s not even speculation. 

[Genady]

3 minutes ago, Steve81 said:

Basically, instead of troubleshooting a computer, I’m troubleshooting myself 😛

To troubleshoot a computer, you don't just observe its misbehavior. You do something and check responses. IOW, you make experiments and collect data.

[CharonY]

!

Moderator Note

This appears to be more suitable to a speculations thread. Please take a minute to familiarize yourself with the rules of this part of the forum here: https://www.scienceforums.net/forum/29-speculations/#elForumRules

Quote

The Speculations forum is provided for those who like to hypothesize new ideas in science. To enrich our discussions above the level of Wild Ass Guesswork (WAG) and give as much meaning as possible to such speculations, we do have some special rules to follow:

1. Speculations must be backed up by evidence or some sort of proof. If your speculation is untestable, or you don't give us evidence (or a prediction that is testable), your thread will be moved to the Trash Can. If you expect any scientific input, you need to provide a case that science can measure.
2. Be civil. As wrong as someone might be, there is no reason to insult them, and there's no reason to get angry if someone points out the flaws in your theory, either.
3. Keep it in the Speculations forum. Don't try to use your pet theory to answer questions in the mainstream science forums, and don't hijack other threads to advertise your new theory.

The movement of a thread into (or out of) Speculations is ultimately at the discretion of moderators, and will be determined on a case by case basis.

 

 

[Steve81]

6 minutes ago, Genady said:

To troubleshoot a computer, you don't just observe its misbehavior. You do something and check responses. IOW, you make experiments and collect data.

I have done so. I have accepted my flaws, and improved my self-esteem,  possibly breaking the cycle.

Edited August 17, 2023 by Steve81

[iNow]

That’s amazing! Have you already submitted your results to the journals?

[exchemist]

5 hours ago, Steve81 said:

This hypothesis is based on personal experience and reflection. The hypothesis is thus:

Bipolar disorder is caused by an overdeveloped affect of interest-excitement. This leads to habits which others find annoying / odd (stuttering, interruptions, etc.), which in turn leads to social rejection and depression. The individual learns to cope, developing a more reserved, euthymic presentation. The cycle repeats as the individual gains self-esteem and attempts to express themselves again. The individual will also be more prone to depression than other individuals due to low self-esteem.

For discussion: are there any logical flaws that you can note in this hypothesis? Suggested treatments if my hypothesis is considered a plausible explanation for bi-polar disorder? 

Thank you in advance for your kind participation in this thread!

For a new hypothesis, the first thing to look at is how it differs from any currently accepted hypotheses and what advantages it offers in comparison to them.

How would you compare your hypothesis to the current view of the causes, for instance as described in the Wiki article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_disorder, which ascribes 70-90% of the causes to genetic factors and the remainder to psychosocial factors, often involving some experience of traumatic events earlier in life? 

Are you rejecting that view and if so why?

 

[Sensei]

7 hours ago, Steve81 said:

For discussion: are there any logical flaws that you can note in this hypothesis?

Such mental illnesses should be analyzed by professionals, not home-grown "specialists".. An MRI or ready access to it, is needed to see how the brain reacts when a problem occurs. Then observe on the device how Lithium (or other drug) reduces (or increases) unusual brain activity.. There is a reason why people with bipolar disorder are called alcoholics, drug addicts when they take drugs (self subscribed) for their disease that reduce brain activity..

6 hours ago, Steve81 said:

Basically, instead of troubleshooting a computer, I’m troubleshooting myself 😛

Then buy MRI..

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_resonance_imaging

 

It is possible to reduce brain activity by observing the brain in the device while it is operating. MRI is damn expensive. There are other, cheaper devices.

People are beginning to control electronic devices with their thoughts.

 

Experiments were carried out - a person was shown a series of images and recorded brain activity on devices. The computer program found out what the reaction to the image was and guessed what the person was looking at when getting the same brain activity in the next cycle.

[Steve81]

1 hour ago, exchemist said:

For a new hypothesis, the first thing to look at is how it differs from any currently accepted hypotheses and what advantages it offers in comparison to them.

How would you compare your hypothesis to the current view of the causes, for instance as described in the Wiki article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_disorder, which ascribes 70-90% of the causes to genetic factors and the remainder to psychosocial factors, often involving some experience of traumatic events earlier in life? 

Are you rejecting that view and if so why?

Good morning! Pulling from the Wikipedia link:

Quote

The causes of bipolar disorder likely vary between individuals and the exact mechanism underlying the disorder remains unclear.^[43] Genetic influences are believed to account for 73–93% of the risk of developing the disorder indicating a strong hereditary component.

I do not disagree with this at all. The affect interest-excitement is considered a genetic trait, as observed by Silvan Tomkins (more info on observed affects). Now, if you would allow me, let me relay you a few personal experiences. I was always considered "annoying", even by family members growing up. My excitement even now, clearly annoys certain people. I was bullied, harassed, etc. growing up, and began excluding myself from any social contact. After getting expelled from one high school for bad behavior, I was able to find a home at a new school towards the end of my sophomore year. 

As it relates to self-esteem, something interesting happened between sophomore and junior year of high school. I lost weight and experienced a conveniently timed growth spurt. Instead of being a short, dumpy looking kid, I was a bit taller, and in quite good shape. In my junior year, in part thanks to the self-esteem boost generated by my achievement and favorable feedback, I was able to make a few (but not many) friends. None of these friendships were close, but it was enough. My academic performance soared. By the time I graduated high school, I had obtained acceptance to George Washington University with a scholarship to study chemistry. I basically slept through AP chemistry in class, though I was fascinated by the experiments; our teacher even let us do our own experiments towards year end for demonstrations to the entire school (this was a small private school). My demonstration was thermite; while I'm not entirely sure I got it to actually ignite properly, I still got the desired reaction from the crowd. I also had an interest in history, physics, and math, and scored well on those AP exams.

The transition to college life was a hard one, especially since none of my friends went to GWU; I had begged my parents to let me attend Catholic U, where I also obtained a scholarship, and my friends went; the "prestige" of GWU was too much for my mother to disregard, and my high school counselor agreed with her. So, in a new environment, I once again had no friends, and a distinct nervousness about approaching people to make new ones. Still, I made one friend, a lovely woman named Kristina. I was smitten with her, but too immature/intimidated to do much of anything about it. We hung out all the time, and my academic performance remained stable for my freshman year at GWU. 

Things took a marked turn of events when Kristina informed me that she had to leave GWU at the end of freshman year; I knew she had to work and go to school at the same time, and that she was far from home. She was transferring to Rutgers. This had an absolutely devastating impact upon me. Sophomore year, my grades hit rock bottom, I lost my scholarship, and ultimately dropped out. I was so overwhelmingly upset I literally moved to California with nothing more than what I could carry with me in my car. One unfortunate sidenote, to indicate the kind of people my parents were: I later learned after I moved back to Maryland that Kristina had tried to keep in touch with me. I found a number of letters and cards in my old room, that my parents (who had visited me in CA) never bothered give me. 

I hope this story demonstrates how my personal experiences informed my opinion, and aren't merely written off as a useless anecdote. Thanks for reading!

Edited August 17, 2023 by Steve81

[Genady]

Kay Redfield Jamison - Wikipedia has written about her own bipolar disorder as a professional psychologist working on this illness.

Quote

Her seminal works among laypeople are her memoir An Unquiet Mind, which details her experience with severe mania and depression

 

[Steve81]

20 minutes ago, Genady said:

Kay Redfield Jamison - Wikipedia has written about her own bipolar disorder as a professional psychologist working on this illness.

 

Thanks for the reference! It is my speculation that bipolar disorder has defied understanding for so long because of the hesitancy of those living with it to open up, even in therapy. It takes a bipolar individual who has broken free to adequately explain their experiences as a case study to move the needle on understanding.

Another speculation: I wonder if cases like the Uvalde shooter suffered similar pathologies. He was at least noted to have a stutter, and was obviously socially isolated.

Edited August 17, 2023 by Steve81

[Genady]

I know many people who don't suffer from the bipolar disorder but are as well capable of generating a new speculation every 10 minutes. They just don't get excited by this activity.

[Steve81]

14 minutes ago, Genady said:

I know many people who don't suffer from the bipolar disorder but are as well capable of generating a new speculation every 10 minutes. They just don't get excited by this activity.

I’m overeager to share my thoughts 😄
 

Speculation: ADHD link? 

Edited August 17, 2023 by Steve81

[Sensei]

1 hour ago, Genady said:

I know many people who don't suffer from the bipolar disorder but are as well capable of generating a new speculation every 10 minutes. They just don't get excited by this activity.

Wait till mania cycle ends..

 

[swansont]

1 hour ago, Steve81 said:

Thanks for the reference! It is my speculation that bipolar disorder has defied understanding for so long because of the hesitancy of those living with it to open up, even in therapy. It takes a bipolar individual who has broken free to adequately explain their experiences as a case study to move the needle on understanding.

Another speculation: I wonder if cases like the Uvalde shooter suffered similar pathologies. He was at least noted to have a stutter, and was obviously socially isolated.

CharonY posted the guidelines - you need to present evidence. Is stuttering a predictive indication of being bipolar? Present medical evidence of this. Statistics, etc.

As we say, this isn’t the WAG forum. We require that some minimal amount of scientific rigor be applied.

[Steve81]

1 minute ago, swansont said:

CharonY posted the guidelines - you need to present evidence. Is stuttering a predictive indication of being bipolar? Present medical evidence of this. Statistics, etc.

As we say, this isn’t the WAG forum. We require that some minimal amount of scientific rigor be applied.

I clearly stated this was a speculation.

[swansont]

1 minute ago, Steve81 said:

I clearly stated this was a speculation.

We define what we mean by speculation. If you can’t provide some level of rigor, we’ll close the thread, just as we’ve done hundreds of times before. In any event, you get to learn about the concept of peer review

 

 

[Steve81]

21 minutes ago, swansont said:

We define what we mean by speculation. If you can’t provide some level of rigor, we’ll close the thread, just as we’ve done hundreds of times before. In any event, you get to learn about the concept of peer review

I provided rigor by providing a detailed account of my personal experiences with bipolar disorder (including my tendency to stutter). @Genady also provided a handy reference that I'm happy to purchase and review and see if it provides further evidence. 

Edited August 17, 2023 by Steve81

[iNow]

4 hours ago, Sensei said:

MRI is damn expensive

Off topic, but this is a space where I anticipate recent advancements in room temperature semiconductors will offer huge rewards and benefits to bring costs down. Part of why MRIs are so expensive is because they require such powerful cooling to work.

52 minutes ago, Steve81 said:

I provided rigor by providing a detailed account of my personal experiences

You misspelled anecdote, unless perhaps you meant "narrative?"

[Steve81]

34 minutes ago, iNow said:

You misspelled anecdote, unless perhaps you meant "narrative?"

Have you ever read a psychological case study? I have. This is what they look like.

[Phi for All]

1 hour ago, Steve81 said:

I provided rigor by providing a detailed account of my personal experiences with bipolar disorder (including my tendency to stutter). 

4 hours ago, Steve81 said:

I hope this story demonstrates how my personal experiences informed my opinion, and aren't merely written off as a useless anecdote.

This could be part of the misunderstanding about our Speculations section. We're still using mainstream knowledge here, so your hypothesis needs to rise ABOVE mere opinion, and unfortunately the scientific method tells us to avoid subjective, personal experiences and draw from a broader, more objective dataset. Your anecdote isn't useless, since you can base further research into the subject on your own experiences, but for discussion purposes, we need to see how you would go about gathering more evidence in support of your hypothesis. 

Evidence is the key here, and makes the real difference between guessing and speculating. Anybody can guess, but guesses combined with supportive evidence could lead to an actual theory.