Does Childhood Bipolar I Disorder Persist?

Many adults with bipolar disorders report that they had symptoms in childhood, but no prospective studies have determined how often childhood bipolar disorder continues into adulthood. These investigators followed 115 children (mean age at baseline, 11 years) with a first episode of pure or mixed mania.

The researchers used a stringent definition of childhood bipolar I disorder: Diagnosis of mania required elation, grandiosity, or both. Most subjects (94%) completed all assessments during the 8-year follow-up (every 6 months for 2 years, yearly for 4 years, and a final assessment 2 years later). About half of the participants were 18 or older at the final assessment.

Of the group, 88% recovered from the index manic episode (mean time to recov…