A family study of early-onset bipolar I disorder.
BACKGROUND
Relatives of early-onset bipolar probands have greater risk for affective disorders than those of adult-onset bipolar probands.


METHODS
Relatives of 50 adolescent bipolar I probands and 36 adult-onset bipolar probands (onset > or = 25 years) were assessed using the Family Interview for Genetic Studies (FIGS) by a qualified psychiatrist blind to the proband status. Morbid risk was calculated using Weinberg's method of age correction.


RESULTS
Relatives of early-onset probands had significantly greater risk for affective disorders compared to the relatives of adult-onset bipolar probands.


CONCLUSIONS
Early-onset bipolar disorder is more familial than the adult bipolar disorder.


CONCLUSIONS
Subdivision of bipolar disorder according to age-at-onset may identify homogeneous subtypes useful for genetic studies.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients were recruited from a major psychiatric hospital. The family history method was used to collect information about relatives.
Somanath
C P
CP
Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and NeuroSciences, Bangalore 560 029, India.
Jain
S
S
Reddy
Y C Janardhan
YC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000235:genetics*; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged