title: Defining and identifying early onset bipolar spectrum disorder.
abstract: Early onset bipolar spectrum disorder (EOBPSD) is difficult to diagnose because of symptom overlap with other disorders and nearly ubiquitous comorbidity. A thorough assessment of EOBPSD should include the following: 1) a timeline of the child's development, from birth to present, showing the episodic nature of EOBPSD; 2) a structured clinical interview determining comorbidity and differential diagnosis; 3) a family history genogram to ascertain familial loading and environmental stressors, which informs case conceptualization; 4) depression and mania rating scales to assess symptom severity and track treatment outcome; 5) global rating scales to obtain cross-informant data and inform broad-based treatments; and 6) a current mood log to document baseline functioning and track treatment outcome. Examples of a timeline, family history genogram, and current mood log are presented. This comprehensive approach to assessing EOBPSD, a severe and possibly lifelong disorder, is strongly advocated. No scale, instrument, or technique alone is adequate to diagnose EOBPSD.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
authors.forename: Colleen A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.forename: Mary A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fristad
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017668:Age of Onset; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D007508:Irritable Mood; D008487:Medical History Taking; D010375:Pedigree; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales