National Institute of Mental Health Research Roundtable on Prepubertal Bipolar Disorder

Objective

A research roundtable mooting was convened at the National Institute of Mental Health on April 27. 2000. to discuss the existing controversial areas in the diagnosis ol bipolar disoider in prepubertal children.

Method

Invited clinicians and resoarcheis with expertise on bipolai disorder in children were asked to share and discuss then perspectives on diagnostic issues foi bipolai disorder in prepubertal children

Results

The group reached agreement that diagnosis of bipolar disorder in piepubertal children is possible with currently available psychiatric assessment instruments In addition to phenotypes that lit USM-IV ciiUuia foi bipolar I and bipolar II. participants agreed on the existence of other phenotypic possibilities that do not meet diagnostic criteria Bipolar not otherwise specified (NOS) was recommended as a “working diagnosis” for the non -DSM-IV phenotype.

Conclusions

Bipolar disorder exists and can be diagnosed in prepubertal children. In childr en who present with both the DSM-IV anti non- DS/W-/1/phenotypes (i.e., those given a diagnosis of bipo- lar-NOS), assessment should include careful evaluation of all befiaviors that aie impairing. Moreover, these children should be monitored systematically to explore stability and change over time in diagnosis and impairment. J Am. Acad. Child Adolcsc. Psychiatry. 2001,40(8):871 878.