Objective: Although impact of family and social relations in the beginning, course, and outcome of psychiatric illness in genetically vulnerable individuals is well known, there is no data on relationship patterns of offspring of bipolar patients. This study investigates impact of being raised by a bipolar mother on attachment, separation anxiety and perceived social support.

Method: 25 adult children who were raised by 25 BP-I or BP-II mothers who had at least one episode before subject was born and at least one episode during subject’s first three years of age were included. Control group consisted of children of healthy mothers and were matched according to age, gender, and educational status. Parental Bonding Instrument, Experiences in Close Relationships Revised, Social Support Questionnaire, Adult Separation Anxiety Inventory, and SCID-I were applied to both groups.

Results: No significant difference was found in parental bonding, style of attachment in romantic relationships, and separation anxiety scores. Social network of offspring of bipolar mothers was significantly smaller (p = .046). In offspring of bipolar mothers, there was significant association between attachment to parents and perceived social support (p <.05). No such association was found in control group. Axis I disorders were significantly higher in offspring of BP mothers (p = .001).

Conclusions: Being raised by a bipolar mother may not by itself severely disrupt psychosocial development which affects intimate and social relationships in later life. Specific factors varying from illness characteristics to cultural factors may have stronger impact on the developing child and need further investigation.