Bipolar risk in youth examined

Anxiety and disruptive behaviour disorders and other common psychiatric problems among youth may be the first signs of a far less common illness – bipolar disorder.

"While there is evidence to show that a parent with BD has an increased risk of passing it on to their offspring, most children of parents with BD do not in fact develop it," says Sunnybrook psychiatrist Dr. Benjamin Goldstein, the lead author on a new study.

"This left us asking ‘What are the risk factors associated with BD among offspring of parents with BD versus those who will not go on to develop it?' In order to best individualize our approach to treatment, we need to increase our understanding of which kids are at the highest risk."

The study also found the following results: children of younger parents with BD and those who have both parents with BD are also at increased risk of developing the disorder. These findings could have implications for the diagnosis and treatment of children who have a parent with BD.

Identifying these risk factors for BD would help create targeted and individualized prevention and treatment efforts.

Youth bipolar disorder can include severe manic and depressive symptoms, functional impairment, hospitalization, psychosis, and suicide attempts. Effective pharmacological and behavioural treatments are available. Similar to other illnesses, prompt diagnosis and treatment is of fundamental importance.