Our 14-year-old daughter is continually angry or rude with us and it’s putting a strain on our family life. Any advice?

Your daughter is in her first years of teenagehood – a time when kids can have difficulty coping with the physical and mental changes involved. You have to teach her a way through. It requires you to set clear boundaries for the type of behaviour you expect to see and stick to them. First, decide on what these rules are and explain this to your daughter. Not at a time when conflict is high, but when she’s had a good day and you can initiate the conversation with some element of praise. Be clear about what the consequences are for breaking the rules. Be very matter of fact and keep the emotion out of it. If she responds by kicking up a fuss, reiterate, but don’t engage. One of the key roles you have as a parent is to teach your child that there are other ways to respond – a kind of problem solving if you like. Get her to come up with behaviour strategies. Ask her what it feels like when she starts to feel angry, so that she can recognise the signs, then see if she can suggest an alternative behaviour. If she can’t suggest anything guide her with suggestions.

Can disorders such as bipolar disorder be passed down from the parents to the child?

In terms of inheriting a bipolar disorder from your parents there is still not a clear consensus on the genetic predisposition for a bipolar disorder but research has found it to be around five-10 per cent for a first degree relative (this would include parents) and 40-70 per cent for a monozygotic (identical) twin. However, the genetics that lead to bipolar are complex and it is still not completely understood exactly which genes or which combinations of genes lead to actual symptoms. Many people who would be considered “at-risk” due to their genetics do not have symptoms of a bipolar disorder. To summarise, if you have a first degree relative who has a bipolar disorder there is a slightly higher likelihood you may develop these symptoms, however your environment also plays an important role. Trying to decrease stress, having good social supports and processing traumatic events you have experienced can help you to maintain your mental health.