THE JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS
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Study Published in The Journal of Pediatrics Tracks Patients Untreated on Average
More than 16 Years
22% to 28% of the adults studied experienced the onset of bipolar disorder prior to the age of 13. In the
interval between onset of illness and initial treatment, patients are at risk of disability and comorbid
conditions such as anxiety and substance abuse. Moreover, some children with bipolar disorder are
diagnosed with ADHD or depression and receive treatment for long periods of time with only stimulants or
antidepressants, rather than combination medications such as mood stabilizers or atypical antipsychotics,
as recommended in most treatment guidelines for bipolar disorder. As stated by Dr. Russell Scheffer
from the Medical College of Wisconsin in an editorial that accompanies the study, “The information
contained in this report and additional mounting evidence suggest that early detection, diagnosis, and
treatment are essential for determining effective treatment outcomes and, subsequently, quality of life for
those affected with bipolar disorder.” Earlier recognition and treatment of bipolar disorder in children and
adolescents could positively impact the course of illness.
The study is reported in “The Poor Prognosis of Childhood Onset Bipolar Disorder” by Gabriele Simon
Leverich, Robert M Post, M.D., Paul E Keck Jr., M.D., Lori L Altshuler, M.D., Mark A Frye, M.D., Ralph W
Kupka, M.D., Ph.D., Willem A Nolen, M.D., Ph.D., Trisha Suppes, M.D., Ph.D., Susan L McElroy, M.D.,
Heinz Grunze, M.D., Kirk D Denicoff, M.D., Maria KM Moravec, B.S., David Luckenbaugh, M.A. from the
National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Maryland, University of Cincinnati
College of Medicine, Ohio, Altrecht Institute for Mental Health Care and University Hospital Groningen,
The Netherlands, University of Texas-Southwestern Medical Center, Texas, and Psychiatrische Klinik der
LMU, Germany. The editorial is titled “Childhood Onset Bipolar Disorder: A Role for Early Recognition
and Treatment” by Russell E. Scheffer, M.D. from the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee,
Wisconsin. The article and editorial appear in The Journal of Pediatrics, Volume 150, Issue 5 (May
2007), published by Elsevier.
Journalists: You have permission for one-time use of the figure with acknowledgment and
copyright ownership stated. Please use the text below. For the figure in TIFF format, please
contact journal.pediatrics@cchmc.org
Copyright © 2007 by Mosby, an affiliate of Elsevier, Inc. Leverich GS, Post RM, Keck Jr PE, Altshuler
LL, Frye MA, Kupka RW, et al. The Poor Prognosis of Childhood Onset Bipolar Disorder. J Pediatr
2007;150:485-90.
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ABOUT THE JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS
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