Examining the association between pediatric bipolar disorder and anxiety disorders in psychiatrically referred children and adolescents.
BACKGROUND
To examine the association between anxiety (ANX) and bipolar disorders (BPD) in a clinically referred pediatric sample.


METHODS
Subjects were consecutively referred youth aged <18 years, with a DSM-III-R/DSM-IV diagnosis of BPD (n=297) or a disruptive behavior disorder (DBD) (n=1100) on structured interview.


RESULTS
Bipolar disorder in youth was associated with a significantly increased risk for most of the DSM-IV anxiety disorders and was not specifically linked to any one disorder in particular.


CONCLUSIONS
Bipolar disorder in youth is a significant risk factor for anxiety comorbidity. Considering the morbidity and dysfunction as well as the differing therapeutic needs associated with bipolar and anxiety symptomatology, appropriate therapeutic approaches will be needed for the management of youth with this comorbidity.
Harpold
Terri L
TL
Clinical and Research Program in Pediatric Psychopharmacology, Johnson and Johnson Center for the Study of Pediatric Psychopathology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, USA.
Wozniak
Janet
J
Kwon
Anne
A
Gilbert
Jennifer
J
Wood
Julia
J
Smith
Laura
L
Biederman
Joseph
J
D000293:Adolescent; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012307:Risk Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic