Examining the association between pediatric bipolar disorder and anxiety disorders in psychiatrically referred children and adolescents

Harpold, Terri L.; Wozniak, Janet; Kwon, Anne; Gilbert, Jennifer; Wood, Julia; Smith, Laura; Biederman, Joseph

doi:10.1016/j.jad.2005.05.016

« Previous Next »Journal of Affective Disorders
Volume 88, Issue 1 , Pages 19-26, September 2005

Examining the association between pediatric bipolar disorder and anxiety disorders in psychiatrically referred children and adolescents

Clinical and Research Program in Pediatric Psychopharmacology, Johnson & Johnson Center for the Study of Pediatric Psychopathology, at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, United States

Stanley Center for the Treatment of Pediatric Bipolar Disorder at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, United States

Received 30 September 2004; accepted 5 May 2005.

Abstract

Background

To examine the association between anxiety (ANX) and bipolar disorders (BPD) in a clinically referred pediatric sample.

Methods

Subjects were consecutively referred youth aged <18 years, with a DSM-III-R/DSM-IV diagnosis of BPD (n=297) or a disruptive behavior disorder (DBD) (n=1100) on structured interview.

Results

Bipolar disorder in youth was associated with a significantly increased risk for most of the DSM-IV anxiety disorders and was not specifically linked to any one disorder in particular.

Conclusions

Bipolar disorder in youth is a significant risk factor for anxiety comorbidity. Considering the morbidity and dysfunction as well as the differing therapeutic needs associated with bipolar and anxiety symptomatology, appropriate therapeutic approaches will be needed for the management of youth with this comorbidity.

Keywords: Bipolar disorder, Mania, Anxiety syndromes, Pediatric, Youth, Comorbidity