Inclusion Criteria:  Inclusion criteria are written consent after previous written and verbal information, diagnosis of BD according to DSM-IV and age between 18 and 75 years.  Exclusion Criteria:  Exclusion criteria include  acute suicidality lack of consent severe active drug dependence (i.e., alcohol, benzodiazepines, morphine) other currently active severe mental / cerebral organic disease (e.g. epilepsy, brain tumor), severe skull-brain trauma / brain surgery in the past, known florid tumor disease, congenital / infantile mental retardation, dementia (from MMSE 20), severe florid autoimmune diseases or current immunosuppression (e.g., lupus erythematosus, HIV, multiple sclerosis), cardiac, renal and pulmonary disorders or PTSD or anxiety Healthy controls do not have a history of mental disorder and do not have first- or second-degree relatives with psychiatric disorders.