Another Step Toward a Dimensional Diagnosis for Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is clearly familial, but attempts to identify specific genetic markers have had mixed success because bipolar phenotypes include various features, courses, and neurobiologic findings (see Journal Watch Psychiatry May 20 2004and Dec 8 2004). These researchers used structured interviews to ascertain specific features in 172 families in which the proband had a bipolar I diagnosis, at least two siblings had mood disorders, and (to reduce genetic heterogeneity) mood disorders existed on only one side of the family. The 40 examined features included diagnostic criteria for mania and depression, diagnostic subtype, age at onset, comorbid psychiatric diagnoses, history of suicide attempts, social relationships, level of functioning…