Bipolar offspring: a window into bipolar disorder evolution

Biol Psychiatry. 2003 Jun 1;53(11):945-51. doi: 10.1016/s0006-3223(03)00061-1.

Abstract

Children of parents with bipolar disorder (bipolar offspring) represent a rich cohort for study with potential for illumination of prodromal forms of bipolar disorder. Due to their high-risk nature, bipolar offspring may present phenomenological, temperamental, and biological clues to early presentations of bipolar disorder. This article reviews the evidence for establishing bipolar offspring as a high-risk cohort, the studies which point to possible prodromal states in bipolar offspring, biological findings in bipolar offspring which may be indicators of even higher risk for bipolar disorder, initial attempts at early intervention in prodromal pediatric bipolar disorder, and implications for future research.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Bipolar Disorder / diagnosis*
  • Bipolar Disorder / genetics*
  • Child
  • Child Behavior Disorders* / genetics
  • Child of Impaired Parents / classification*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Risk Factors