Loading...
Because genetic contributions to bipolar disorder are prominent, children of bipolar parents are especially vulnerable to mood and anxiety disorders. Families and clinicians are eager to identify those particularly at risk as early as possible. These investigators followed 391 school-age children of 236 bipolar parents (bipolar I, 170; bipolar II, 66) and 248 offspring of 141 community-based parents. Mean follow-up was 7 years, with a mean of 2.7 assessments (initial mean age, 12 years).
Parents in the bipolar group compared with the community group had higher rates of comorbid major depression, anxiety disorders, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and disruptive behavior and substance use disorders; their co-parents had higher…