Comorbidity of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with early- and late-onset bipolar disorder.
OBJECTIVE
The relationship between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and earlier age at onset of affective illness was examined in probands with a history of bipolar disorder.


METHODS
The authors assessed 56 adult bipolar subjects. Those with a history of childhood ADHD (N=8) were age and sex matched with bipolar subjects without a history of childhood ADHD (N=8).


RESULTS
The age at onset of the first affective episode was lower for the subjects with bipolar disorder and a history of childhood ADHD (mean=12.1 years, SD=4.6) than for those without a history of childhood ADHD (mean=20. 0 years, SD=11.3).


CONCLUSIONS
ADHD in children of bipolar probands might identify children at highest risk for development of bipolar disorder.
Sachs
G S
GS
Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA. sachsg@aol.com
Baldassano
C F
CF
Truman
C J
CJ
Guille
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors