The index manic episode in juvenile-onset bipolar disorder: the pattern of recovery.
OBJECTIVE
Recent studies of patients with juvenile bipolar disorder report low rates of recovery and high rates of chronicity. However, we lack data on the short-term outcome. This study examines the pattern of recovery from the index episode in an aggressively treated juvenile sample.


METHODS
We assessed 25 subjects (< 16 years) with a diagnosis of mania, using the Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents-Revised) (DICA-R), Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), and Children's Global Assessment Scale (CGAS) at intake and at 3 and 6 months. We studied the time taken to recover from the index episode, the level of functioning, and the factors predicting them.


RESULTS
After 6 months, 24 (96%) subjects had recovered from the index manic episode. The median time to recovery was 27 days. Total episode length was significantly longer among those with previous affective episodes.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that juvenile-onset mania has high rates of recovery and low rates of chronicity. These differences from the existing literature need further exploration.
Rajeev
J
J
Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, India.
Srinath
Shoba
S
Reddy
Y C J
YC
Shashikiran
M G
MG
Girimaji
Satish Chandra
SC
Seshadri
Shekhar P
SP
Subbakrishna
D K
DK
D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D020127:Recovery of Function; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires