ABSTRACT
Bipolar disorder affects up to 1.5% of the population of the USA,1 with illness relapse rates estimated at between 37% and 44% per year,2,3 a total mortality elevated by 58% (predominantly from suicide and cardiovascular disease4), and syndromic recovery after 1 year following manic or mixed episodes only at 48%.5 Whilst it is clear clinically that mood dysregulation, or affective instability, is a key symptom of the disorder, the nature of the neural mechanism underlying this abnormality remains poorly understood. Clarification of this mechanism will be crucial for the future development of effective therapeutic interventions for this common but poorly treated disorder.
