Paediatric Bipolar Disorder

Paediatric bipolar disorder (PBD) is a serious mood disorder defined by episodes of mania or hypomania and depression. It is often associated with considerable functional impairment and suicidality. The symptom overlap between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and PBD creates the greatest diagnostic problems. When using broader diagnostic criteria, including bipolar not otherwise specified (BP-NOS), the rates of PBD rose to 6.7% in the US, which was significantly higher than the 2.4% reported in other countries. The diagnosis of mania requires a distinct period of abnormally and persistently elevated or expansive mood. Bipolar disorder typically presents with depressive episodes after puberty. It is a risk factor for suicide. Suicide attempts are associated with female sex, older age, earlier illness onset, more severe/episodic PBD, mixed episodes, co-morbid disorders, past self-injurious behaviour, physical or sexual abuse, parental depression, family history of suicidality and poor family functioning.