Can Bipolar Disorder evolve into Schizophrenia?

I mean, if someone were to be diagnosed with BiPolar Disorder at a young age, can it progress into Schizophrenia at a later age?

As far as we know now, no, bipolar cannot progress into schizophrenia. However, there is new evidence linking the two.

Despite the fact that schizophrenia and bipolar disorder have different diagnostic credentials in the bible of American psychiatric medicine (the DSM-IV), the two disorders show a significant overlap of symptoms, as well as some similar treatment strategies. Now, scientists are discovering some of the key biological similarities that may link these diseases even more strongly.
http://www.schizophrenia.com/sznews/arch...

A new study reported in The Lancet (2003;362:798-805) has found a genetic link between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Researchers performed clinical studies on 15 brains affected by schizophrenia, 15 affected by bipolar disorder, and 15 with neither. Tests were performed to determine what genes are expressed in each. The research revealed similarities in the reduction of oligodendrocyte-related and myelin-related genes. The researchers also found similar expression changes to the schizophrenia group in bipolar brains, which thus lends support to the notion that the disorders share common causative and pathophysiological pathways.
http://www.indegene.com/neu/home/indneu_... Source(s): http://360.yahoo.com/jamie_hassen...
http://www.schizophrenia.com/sznews/arch...
http://www.indegene.com/neu/home/indneu_...

I dont believe so I believe they are two separate illnesses thats not to say you couldnt have both but I dont think one leads to another....
No, I'm a psychologist, and Bipolar Disorder does not "progress" into schizophrenia. Bipolar Disorder is characterized by a depressive episode with at least one manic episode- once a person has a manic episode, they are labeled as bipolar the rest of their lives, even if they only have depressive episodes from then on.

Schizophrenia occurs to about 1% of the population, and it occurs in what is referred to as a schizophrenic break in which the patient loses touch with reality, experiences auditory and/or visual hallucinations, and is delusional. Schizophrenia is permanent.

Most schizophrenic breaks occur in a person's early 20s in reaction to a life stressor, and there is a solid genetic link to schizophrenia.
No. They are two seperate disorders. One does not progress into the other. Sometimes their symptoms can look somewhat similar, but you don't "get" schizophrenia from bipolar or any other disorder.
no
http://sensitive-psychoworld.blogspot.co...