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Differences between prepubertal- versus adolescent- onset bipolar disorder in a Spanish clinical sample

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Abstract

Objective

To examine patients attended and diagnosed with bipolar disorder (BD) at a child and adolescent psychiatry service; to record age of diagnosis and age of onset, and to study clinical differences between prepubertal and adolescent onset groups.

Methods

All patients currently attended for BD type I, type II or non specified BD were reviewed and divided into two age groups: prepubertal onset (beginning before age 13) and adolescent onset (beginning at or above age 13).

Results

The sample were 43 patients with BD. Fourteen (32.6%) with prepubertal onset and 29 (67.4%) with adolescent onset. Time between onset of symptoms and diagnosis was longer in the prepubertal onset group (1.2 years versus 0.8 years respectively, P = .05). Patients with prepubertal onset BD more frequently presented previous symptoms such as irritability and conduct problems and had a higher rate of comorbidity (more frequently attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder–ADHD). The adolescent onset group more often presented psychotic symptoms.

Conclusion

The clinical characteristics of patients with bipolar disorder differ according to whether onset is prepubertal or adolescent.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology Department, Clinical Institute of Neurosciences, Hospital Clínic Universitari of Barcelona, C/Villarroel, 170, Barcelona, 08036, Spain

    Luisa Lázaro, Josefina Castro-Fornieles, José Eugenio de la Fuente, Immaculada Baeza, Astrid Morer & Montserrat Pàmias

  2. Institut d’investigacions biomèdiques, August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain

    Luisa Lázaro & Josefina Castro-Fornieles

  3. Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology Department, Health Sciences Division, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Luisa Lázaro & Josefina Castro-Fornieles

Authors
  1. Luisa Lázaro
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  2. Josefina Castro-Fornieles
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  3. José Eugenio de la Fuente
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  4. Immaculada Baeza
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  6. Montserrat Pàmias
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Correspondence to Luisa Lázaro.

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Lázaro, L., Castro-Fornieles, J., de la Fuente, J.E. et al. Differences between prepubertal- versus adolescent- onset bipolar disorder in a Spanish clinical sample. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 16, 510–516 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-007-0629-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-007-0629-9

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