Biomarkers and vulnerability to bipolar disorders

Abstract

Bipolar spectrum disorders are common and severe psychiatric diseases, with an important personal and societal burden. Current psychiatric neuro science research combines different approaches in order to unravel the pathophysiology of the disease, and focuses on vulnerability factors. Here we review the main biological findings regarding trait markers of bipolar disorders, and how they can be considered as vulnerability factors in high-risk subjects, or biomarkers of illness progression or treatment response.