Project Summary

Andrew Nierenberg, M.D. (Independent Investigator 2000) of Massachusetts General Hospital, will conduct a longitudinal examination of risk for affective disorders in 50 children of parents with bipolar disorder. These children and their parents received structured diagnostic interviews 5-6 years ago, and in the present study they will be re-administered these interviews. It is hypothesized that at the 5-year follow-up, children of patients with early-onset bipolar disorder who had received a diagnosis of disruptive behavior disorders, and one of several co-existing disorders, will demonstrate significantly greater rates of affective disorders than children of bipolar patients who did not meet criteria for these disorders. In addition, the investigators will attempt to replicate the findings of the original study. This work may represent the first stage in planning for a primary preventive intervention of children at risk for bipolar disorder.

Program Area: MOOD DISORDERS\Unipolar/Bipolar

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