In this book, experts in neuroimaging and genetics discuss recent discoveries in bipolar disorder, leading to an integrated neurophysiologic model of this condition. This model provides a substrate for future investigations to, hopefully, lead to better understanding of this illness in order to develop improved therapies for affected individuals.

"The Bipolar Brain is an excellent, comprehensive, thoughtful, and cutting edge overview of what we know about the intersecting worlds of genetic and neuroimaging research in bipolar illness. It is also a first-rate gateway into the future." -- Kay Redfield Jamison, PhD, The Dalio Family Professor in Mood Disorders and Professor of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine "The Bipolar Brain is an outstanding compendium and synthesis summarizing the substantial advances to date in understanding the genetics, brain structures and function involved in the clinical manifestations of bipolar disorder. Highly readable and clinically relevant, with contributors who have led the fields of clinical neuroscience in bipolar disorder, this volume in itself advances the field." -- Paul E. Keck, Jr., MD, President-CEO, Lindner Center of Hope "Strakowski and a stellar group of colleagues have produced a volume much awaited by the field. They provide us with an integrated neurophysiological model of bipolar disorder by focusing on neuroimaging and genetic findings- no doubt the most robust biomarkers on the pathophysiology of this devastating condition. This volume achieves its goal of providing us with a neurophysiological paradigm of bipolar disorder - A volume that will be of great value not only to investigators in the field but also to clinicians treating patients with bipolar disorder who wish to better understand its pathophysiology. This book gives me hope that with a better understanding of the condition, our patients will benefit from better treatments. The goal of developing treatments tailored to neuroimaging and genetic finding may not be that far away after all." -- Mauricio Tohen MD, DrPH, MBA, President, International Society for Bipolar Disorders "The Bipolar Brain provides an abundance of readily accessible information on ways that brain imaging methods can aid in understanding the psychopathology, illness course, and interrelationships between brain structure and functions and other fundamental areas of investigation about bipolar disorders. For persons interested in incorporating brain imaging methodologies, an excellent overview addresses the principles, particular strengths and limitations of the several primary techniques available in the field of imaging methodologies. Much of the book focuses on multi-system studies. In particular a section on interrelationships between mitochondrial functions and impact on brain structure and function, as well as the unique genetic underpinnings of mitochondrial systems, is worth reading even by scientists working solely outside the field of brain imaging studies." --Charles L. Bowden, MD, Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio "This excellent book covers the fast growing research into the genetics and neuroimaging of bipolar disorder and presents a new neurophysiological model of the disorder. Any informed psychiatrist would want to read this outstanding book." -- Michael Joel Schrift, D.O., M.A., University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, Doody's "This is an extremely up-to-date and well-written compilation of chapters by leaders in the field of the interface between neuroimaging and genetics in bipolar disorder...This book is a fine expression of the momentum spearheaded by the National Institute of Mental Health toward a "circuits" approach to psychiatric disorder and in that sense is a good introduction for anyone interested in psychiatric research..." -- R. H. Belmaker, American Journal of Psychiatry "Understanding the structural and functional abnormalities within bipolar disease is an evolving process. This superb review will allow the reader to ascertain what is known up to 2012 and better integrate new findings that will be published. It is reasonably priced, beautifully produced, and should be in all medical libraries, but also in libraries of any psychiatrist who works with many bipolar patients." --Thomas N. WIse, M.D., Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine "Understanding the structural and functional abnormalities within bipolar disease is an evolving process. This superb review will allow the reader to ascertain what is known up to 2012 and better integrate new findings that will be published. It is reasonably priced and beautifully produced and should be in all medical libraries, but also in the library of any psychiatrist who works with many bipolar patients. It is quite a bargain and is certainly worthy of future editions." --Journal of Clinical Psychiatry

Dr. Strakowski was raised in a small town in northern Indiana. He developed an interest in neuroscience as an undergraduate at the University of Notre Dame, and this interest expanded to psychiatric conditions at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He refined his interests into bipolar disorder while training in psychiatry at McLean Hospital and Harvard University School of Medicine. He has developed his professional career at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, where he serves as Senior Associate Dean for Research.