Child and Adolescent Bipolar Disorder: A Review of the Past 10 Years

Objective

To provide a review of the epidemiology, phenomenology, natural course, comorbidity, neurobiology, and treatment of child and adolescent bipolar disorder (BP) for the past 10 years. This review is provided to prepare applicants for recertification by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

Method

Literature from Medline and other searches for the past 10 years, earlier relevant articles, and the authors’ experience and ongoing National Institute of Mental Health-funded project “Phenomenology and Course of Pediatric Bipolarity” were used.

Results

Age-specific, developmental (child, adolescent, and adult) DSM-IVcriteria manifestations: comorbidity and differential diagnoses: and episode and course features are provided. Included are age-specific examples of childhood grandiosity, hypersexuality, and delusions. Differential diagnoses (e g . specific language disorders, sexual abuse, conduct disorder [CD], schizophrenia, substance abuse), suicidality, and BP-II are discussed.

Conclusion

Available data strongly suggest that prepubertal-onset BP is a nonepisodic. chronic, rapid-cycling, mixed manic state that may be comorbid with attention- deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and CD or have features of ADHD and/or CD as initial manifestations. Systematic research on pediatric BP is in its mlancv and will require ongoing and luluro studies to provide developmontally relevant diagnostic methods and treatment J Am. Ac,id Child Adolosc. Prychiotiv. 1997. 96(9) 1168 1176