Developmental manifestations in a boy with prepubertal bipolar disorder.

Bipolar affective disorder is not commonly reported in prepubertal children. This may be secondary to age-related variability in patterns of symptomatology, lack of appropriate diagnostic criteria, and/or confusion with other psychiatric disorders of childhood. A case of adult-type bipolar disorder in a prepubertal child is presented, with emphasis on developmental history, genetic influences, and response to pharmacologic intervention. Studies of children affected by, or at risk for, bipolar disorder are needed to identify biologic and developmental markers of this syndrome.