Project Summary

Andrew Nierenberg, M.D. (Independent Investigator 2003) of Harvard University, notes that earlier age onset of bipolar disorder is associated with more severe symptomatology, poor response to treatment, and poorer prognosis, thus highlighting the importance of identifying individuals at greater risk for developing bipolar disorder in childhood or early adolescence, as well as the need for primary preventive interventions. This study aims to test the hypothesis that children of patients with early on-set bipolar disorder, who display certain patterns of childhood disorders (for example, disruptive behavior disorders comorbid with anxiety, sleep, or elimination disorders) are at significantly greater risk for developing affective illness over time. Dr. Nierenberg will follow-up 54 children of bipolar patients. These children and their parents were assessed one to two years ago using structured diagnostic interviews. The interviews will be re-administered, as will several self- and parent-report questionnaires. In addition, another 50 children of bipolar patients will receive an initial assessment. This design will enable analysis of the time course of psychopathology in the children of patients with bipolar disorder. In addition, this study will serve as a pilot study for a subsequent study of primary prevention, by allowing us to accurately identify those children at highest risk for developing affective illness in later adolescence. Data will be integrated with data on normal children controls and their parents, as well as referred bipolar children and their parents. He believes that children of patients with early onset- bipolar disorder (EOBP) who received (at initial evaluation) a diagnosis of disruptive behavior disorders and one or more comorbid diagnoses of anxiety disorders, elimination disorders, or sleep disorders, will demonstrate significantly greater rates of affective disorders than children of bipolar patients who did not receive this pattern of diagnoses and that children of patients with early-onset bipolar disorder will demonstrate elevated rates of elimination disorders, sleep disorders, anxiety disorders, and disruptive behavior disorders than children of patients with late-onset bipolar disorders.

Program Area: MOOD DISORDERS\Bipolar

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