title: Current concepts in the validity, diagnosis and treatment of paediatric bipolar disorder.
abstract: Despite ongoing controversy, the view that paediatric bipolar disorder is rare or non-existent has been increasingly challenged not only by case reports but also by systematic research. This research strongly suggests that paediatric bipolar disorder may not be rare but that it may be difficult to diagnose. Since children with bipolar disorder are likely to become adults with bipolar disorder, the recognition and characterization of childhood-onset bipolar disorder may help identify a meaningful developmental subtype of bipolar disorder worthy of further investigation. As recommended by Robins and Guze [American Journal of Psychiatry (1970), 126, 983-987], a psychiatric disorder may be considered a valid diagnostic entity if it can be shown to have differentiating features, evidence of familiality, specific treatment responsivity and a unique course. The goal of this article is to review our work and the extant literature within this framework to describe the evidence supporting bipolar disorder in children as a valid clinical diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Psychopharmacology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114-3139, USA. biederman@helix.mgh.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Biederman
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mick
authors.forename: Stephen V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Faraone
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Spencer
authors.forename: Timothy E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Wilens
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wozniak
mesh_terms: D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000523:psychology