Depressive episodes of bipolar disorder in early teenage years: changes with increasing age and the significance of IQ

BACKGROUND: Depressive (or depression-like) episodes are the most common manifestations of bipolar affective disorder in early teenage years. The present paper analyses the clinical features and their changes over time in these episodes. METHODS: By a prospective study on children who had their first affective or psychotic episodes between the ages of ten and fifteen, those who eventually met the ICD 10 diagnostic criteria for bipolar disorder were selected and followed up. RESULTS: There were three boys and nine girls. Their early depressive episodes were characterised by psychotic features and clinging to the mother in most cases, and in some by brief episodes and/or a good response to sulpiride. However, these characteristics tended to disappear with increasing age. Five children (42%) had an IQ of 61-75. LIMITATIONS: Generalisability of the results is limited because of the small number of patients and the lack of control groups. CONCLUSIONS: Bipolar disorder in early teenage years may show clinical features and a drug response that are different from those in adulthood. Low IQ may expedite the onset of bipolar disorder.