Bipolor Disorder

Does anyone know if there is a direct connection between epilepsy and bi-polar disease.
I have a friend who is epileptic and has been for almost all of her life. She is now 34 and I am noticing a change in her behavior. She has massive mood swings (one moment she is nice and reasonable and the next she is mad and unreasonable). I heard that some people with epilepsy can have behavioral disorders from the medication and from the disfunction in their brain. I don't want to confront her about it until I know a little more about this which is why I am asking if anyone knows anything about this? Is there a connection between the two or do you know where I can do some research?

I don't know of a direct connection, but certain anti-epileptic medications are used to treat bipolar as mood stabilisers. There have been theories suggesting that this has something to do with a process called 'kindling' in the brain…website describes it better than I could.

http://www.psycheducation.org/bipolar/controversy.htm#kindling

written by admin