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

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.