ABSTRACT
The present chapter discusses bipolar disorder and whether infection and immunity playa role in the etiology and pathophysiology of this major psychiatric disorder, and if so, how. We will begin with a short introduction to bipolar disorder, summarizing issues of diagnosis, epidemiology, and the relevance of correct diagnosis for research. We will then briefly review the studies published to date on infections and immunity in bipolar disorder. A short section on the effect of psychotropic medication on measures of infection and immunity will follow. The major part of this chapter will introduce suggestions about how infections and peculiarities in immunity might play a role in the pathophysiology and etiology of bipolar disorder. Finally, there will be a short discussion that integrates all of these findings with respect to the etiology and pathophysiology of major psychiatric disorders.
