International Review of Psychiatry· 2026Q2· Review
Bipolar disorder and the mammalian rut: an evolutionary perspective
- 2citations
- Q2SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
Bipolar disorder may have evolved from seasonal 'rut' behaviors seen in mammals, characterized by heightened sexual drive and aggressiveness for gene propagation.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Key points
- Bipolar disorder is hypothesized to have evolved from seasonal 'rut' behaviors in mammals.
- The 'rut' is characterized by increased sexual drive and aggressiveness, aiding species' gene propagation.
- Key features of hypomania/mania show remarkable similarities to the rut.
- The paper traces the evolutionary trajectory of these rhythms from early mammals to humans.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
We propose that bipolar disorder evolved from seasonal rhythms that guided the lives of early men and women. In the animal world seasonal cycles are marked by the alternation of torpor/quiescence and rut/activation and remain ubiquitous in larger mammals, including primates, living in both temperate and tropical zones. The heightened sexual drive and aggressiveness stoked by the rut provide the means for a species to pass along the best genes at the best time. The defining and ancillary characteristics of hypomania/mania and the rut are remarkably similar. They are described and compared. We trace the evolution of these highly adaptive rhythms from the earliest mammalian life to their expression in Homo sapiens and speculate about why such traits remain in our gene pool, where they create a severe burden to many individuals. Finally, we address questions stimulated by our thesis and offer research suggestions.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. International Review of Psychiatry, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: Psychiatry and Mental health
Psychiatry and Mental healthMedicine