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Bipolar disorder may be one of the most misunderstood mental illnesses. More than just ordinary mood swings, intense shifts in mood and behavior can be dangerous to a person with bipolar disorder and the people around them.

Formerly called manic depression, bipolar disorder is a mental illness that causes abrupt and unusual shifts in a person's mood, energy, activity levels and concentration. It also used to be called manic-depressive illness to describe the two extreme states that a person goes through. 

During a manic episode, an individual experiences an abnormally elevated mood, accompanied by extreme, noticeable changes in emotions, thoughts, energy, talkativeness and activity level. During a depressive episode, a person with bipolar disorder experiences an extremely low drive, loss of interest in things that usually interest them, tiredness, changes in appetite, feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness and other symptoms of depression.

While scientists have yet to understand what exactly causes bipolar disorder, two factors can be considered.

Genetic factors

Yale School of Medicine psychiatrist Dr. Robert Beech explains that there may be chemical imbalances in the brain affected by genetics. If one parent has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, then their child is 10 percent likely to have bipolar disorder. However, if both parents have bipolar disorder, this increases to 40 percent. 

Environmental factors

Aside from genetics, scientists believe that environmental factors can cause bipolar disorder. These include extreme stress, history of abuse, loss of a loved one, physical illness and other ongoing concerns or events that affect a person's daily life.