Clinical and neurostructural characteristics among youth with familial and non-familial bipolar disorder: Family history and youth bipolar disorder.

Background: Bipolar disorder (BD) is highly heritable and often severe, particularly when illness onset occurs early in life. There is limited knowledge regarding the clinical and neurostructural correlates of family history of BD among youth with BD.

Methods: Clinical characteristics were evaluated in 197 youth with BD, ages 13-20 years, including 87 with familial BD and 110 with non-familial BD.

Prevalence and correlates of police contact amongst youth with bipolar disorder.

Objectives: While multiple studies have examined prevalence and correlates of police contact in adults with bipolar disorder (BD), literature on this topic in youth is sparse. We therefore examined the prevalence and correlates of police contact amongst youth with BD.

Methods: The study included 197 youth with BD and 127 healthy controls, ages 14-20 years.

Severe anhedonia among adolescents with bipolar disorder is common and associated with increased psychiatric symptom burden.

Background: Anhedonia, a deficit in the ability to experience pleasure, is a cardinal symptom of major depressive episodes. In contrast to adolescent major depressive disorder, there is limited research examining anhedonia in the context of depression among adolescents with bipolar disorder (BD). We therefore examined clinical characteristics of anhedonia in a large sample of adolescents with BD.

Prevalence of white matter hyperintensities is not elevated in a large sample of adolescents and young adults with bipolar disorder.

Objective: The increased prevalence rate of white matter hyperintensities is one of the most consistently reported brain abnormalities in adults with bipolar disorder. However, findings in children and adolescents with bipolar disorder are less consistent. Prior studies have been constrained by small sample sizes and/or poor age- and sex-matching of healthy controls.

Markedly increased prevalence of migraine headaches in adolescents with bipolar disorder.

Objective: There is substantial evidence of increased prevalence of migraines, and negative psychiatric correlates of migraines, in adults with bipolar disorder (BD). Given the paucity of data on this topic in youth, we investigated the prevalence and correlates of migraine in a large sample of adolescents with BD.

Method: The study included 165 adolescents with BD-I, -II, or -not otherwise specified (NOS), diagnosed via the KSADS-PL semi-structured interview, and 89 healthy controls (HCs).

Clinical correlates of socioeconomic status in adolescent bipolar disorder.

Background: Lower socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with symptomatic severity, comorbidity, and functional impairment in adults with bipolar disorder (BD). Little is known about clinical correlates of SES in adolescents with BD.

Methods: Participants included 195 adolescents, 13-20 years old, with BD type I, II or not otherwise specified (NOS).

Proof-of-concept study of a multi-gene risk score in adolescent bipolar disorder.

Background: Few studies have examined multiple genetic variants concurrently for the purpose of classifying bipolar disorder (BD); the literature among youth is particularly sparse. We selected 35 genetic variants, previously implicated in BD or associated characteristics, from which to identify the most robustly predictive group of genes.

Methods: 215 Caucasian adolescents (114 BD and 101 healthy controls (HC), ages 13-20 years) were included.