Adverse life events and pediatric bipolar disorder in a community mental health setting.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the frequency and effects of exposure to adverse events in pediatric bipolar disorder.


METHODS
Charts of youths with bipolar disorder were retrospectively reviewed.


RESULTS
Thirty-five of 66 (53%) had experienced maltreatment. Most (90.9%) had divorced or separated parents and 31.8% were adopted or in foster care. Exposure to adverse events was associated with delay of diagnosis (p = .010), psychiatric hospitalization (p = .035), residential treatment (p = .003) and a decreased response to treatment (p = .006).


CONCLUSIONS
Exposure to adverse events may be common among pediatric bipolar patients and have a negative impact on prognosis.
Marchand
William R
WR
University of Utah, 50 North Medical Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah 84132, USA. wmarchand@aol.com
Wirth
Laurel
L
Simon
Cindy
C
D000293:Adolescent; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D003155:Community Mental Health Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005581:Foster Home Care; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D019962:Reactive Attachment Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D012114:Residential Treatment; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy