Ethnic differences in symptom presentation of youths with bipolar disorder.
OBJECTIVE
To compare symptom profiles of African-American and white adolescents with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.


METHODS
Adolescents, aged 12-18 years at their first psychiatric hospitalization, with a DSM-IV diagnosis of bipolar disorder, manic or mixed, were evaluated on measures of manic, depressive, and positive symptoms of psychosis. Ethnic differences in symptom profiles were examined using multivariate analysis of covariance, and specific symptoms contributing to the difference were analyzed.


RESULTS
Ethnic differences existed in manic and positive symptom profiles, but not depressive symptoms. Compared with the white cohort, African-American youths were diagnosed more frequently as having psychotic features, and had higher ratings for auditory hallucinations.


CONCLUSIONS
Similar to adults, symptom expression in adolescent bipolar disorder may differ between ethnic groups. Future studies are needed to replicate these findings and explore possible explanations.
Patel
Nick C
NC
The College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati, OH 45267-0004, USA. nick.patel@uc.edu
Delbello
Melissa P
MP
Strakowski
Stephen M
SM
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D044383:Black People / Q000523:psychology*; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010343:Patient Admission; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology*; D001741:Black or African American