[The course of bipolar illness]

Although Kraepelin submitted that manic depressive disease is a good-prognosis illness, further data showed that it follows an aggravating course as new episodes emerge. The Kindling model, introduced by epileptologist Goddard and adapted by Robert Post to bipolar disorder, is a possible explanation of the neurobiologic mechanism that underlies the worsening course of the illness. The presentation highlights relations between Kindling, mechanisms governing apoptosis, and the need of continuous treatment for an adequate control of the disease.