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- Title
Early symptoms of mania and the role of parental risk.
- Authors
Findling, Robert L; Youngstrom, Eric A; McNamara, Nora K; Stansbrey, Robert J; Demeter, Christine A; Bedoya, Denise; Kahana, Shoshana Y; Calabrese, Joseph R
- Abstract
Objectives: The objectives of this study were to: (i) describe the phenomenology of youths diagnosed with subsyndromal bipolar disorders; (ii) describe the phenomenology of youngsters who are the children of bipolar parents, who are also experiencing subsyndromal symptoms of bipolar disorder (patients with ‘cyclotaxia’); and (iii) explore which symptoms may be most useful in identifying youths with cyclotaxia. Methods: Four hundred outpatients between the ages of 5 and 17 years received a diagnostic assessment and psychometric questionnaires pertaining to mood symptomatology and psychosocial functioning. Parental diagnostic information was also obtained. Children and adolescents were assigned to one of three diagnostic groups: a ‘syndromal bipolar disorder (BP)’ group (n = 118), a ‘sub-syndromal bipolar (SUB-BP)’ group (n = 75), or a ‘non-bipolar (NON-BP)’ group (n = 207). In addition, based on parental diagnoses, youths were assigned to either a high genetic risk group (n = 167) or a low genetic risk group (n = 233). Results: Youths with subsyndromal bipolar disorders were found to have intermediate degrees of manic symptoms than youths with bipolar disorder and youths without a bipolar diagnosis. Offspring of parents having a bipolar disorder were more likely to show symptoms of hypomania and mania than youths without a bipolar parent. Youths at genetic risk for developing a bipolar disorder were not found to be at higher risk for having a diagnosis of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder or a disruptive behavior disorder. Finally, results suggest that elevated mood with irritability and rapid mood fluctuations are the key distinguishing characteristics of ‘cyclotaxia’. Conclusions: There exists a group of youngsters who are the offspring of a parent/parents with a bipolar disorder who do not suffer from BP 1 or BP 2, yet have elevated mood symptoms and psychosocial dysfunction. As a result of these observations, treatment studies are needed for youths with ‘cyclotaxia’.
- Subjects
SYMPTOMS in children; BIPOLAR disorder in children; PHENOMENOLOGY; ATTENTION-deficit hyperactivity disorder; BEHAVIOR disorders in children; BIPOLAR disorder; PSYCHOSES in children
- Publication
Bipolar Disorders, 2005, Vol 7, Issue 6, p623
- ISSN
1398-5647
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1399-5618.2005.00260.x