Recent Progress in Understanding Pediatric Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is one of the most severe psychiatric illnesses, particularly when onset occurs during childhood or adolescence. With recent empirical evidence, questions regarding the existence of bipolar disorder among children and adolescents have given way to questions regarding prevalence. There are substantial risks inherent in misapplying diagnoses and treatments of bipolar disorder when not warranted and in withholding these diagnoses and treatments when they are warranted. As with adults, the course of bipolar disorder among children and adolescents diagnosed using unmodified diagnostic criteria is characterized by recovery and recurrence, functional impairment, suicidality, and high rates of comorbid psychiatric and medical problems. Discrepancies between increasing billing diagnoses and a stable epidemiologic prevalence of bipolar disorder suggest the possibility that diagnostic criteria are not being systematically applied in some clinical settings. Introducing new diagnoses may exacerbate rather than mitigate concerns regarding misdiagnosis and excessive use of mood-stabilizing medications. Several medications, particularly second-generation antipsychotics, are efficacious for treating acute manic episodes of bipolar I disorder. However, less is known regarding the treatment of other mood states and subtypes of bipolar disorder. Psychosocial treatments provide a forum in which to educate children and families regarding bipolar disorder and its treatment, and may be especially beneficial for reducing depressive symptoms. Offspring of parents with bipolar disorder are at increased risk of developing the illness, as are youth with major depressive disorder and certain psychiatric comorbidities. Preliminary findings regarding biomarkers offer hope that, in the future, these biomarkers may inform diagnostic and treatment decisions. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2012;166(4):362-371. Published online January 2, 2012. doi:10.1001/archpediatrics.2011.832