Genetic Mapping for Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia

Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia afflict approximately 2% of the human population, more than 12,400,000 people. When family members, co-workers, and care-givers are factored in, more than 10% of the population is directly impacted by these medical conditions. Finding a way to reduce the severity of the symptoms or cure these diseases would positively impact a large number of people. This paper defines and differentiates between these two similar-but-different maladies, and explores both the traditional courses of treatment as well as the most current research with potential to help combat these diseases ¿ especially genetic mapping with the use of neuroimaging. Because genetic mapping has been successfully used to treat cancers, applying this technique to neurological disorders is the next logical step to take.