Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder is a mental illness involving mood fluctuations between extreme highs (mania) and lows (depression). Some people with bipolar disorder also experience psychosis and become unable to discern what is real. It typically develops in late adolescence or early adulthood.
Bipolar presents differently in everyone with the disorder, but typically involves periods of mania and depression. These periods can last for varying amounts of time, and some people may experience one much more frequently than the other.
How The Florey is making a difference
Using post-mortem human brain tissue in conjunction with preclinical research, the Florey is working to understand the biochemical changes in the brain that may give rise to bipolar disorder. The Florey also maintains close collaborations with clinicians with a particular interest in bipolar disorder to ensure our research remains at the cutting edge of biological psychiatry.
Research projects
- CaMKK2 control of neuronal function and complex behaviour in health and disease
- Do the beneficial effects of exercise involve miRNA-mediated regulation of gene expression?
- Gene-environment interactions in the regulation of cellular plasticity, cognitive function and behaviour
- Modulating metals homeostasis to treat neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders
- Rapid-acting antidepressants on motivation and neural circuit activity in depression and mood disorders
More information
Please note that The Florey is a research institute that conducts research into various brain and mental health conditions. There are no clinical or diagnostic services at The Florey and we are unable to give advice on treatment in individual cases.
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Latest news
Latest Florey news on Bipolar disorder
