Does the Child Behavior Checklist juvenile bipolar disorder phenotype identify bipolar disorder?
BACKGROUND
A profile of Child Behavior Checklist(CBCL) T-scores>or=70 on the attention problems, aggression, and anxious/depressed subscales has been proposed to identify juvenile bipolar disorder(JBD). We tested this hypothesis in a population-based sample.


METHODS
Data for this analysis come from a birth-records-based twin sample having semi-structured interview and CBCL data (N=1,346). We compared prevalence of DSM-IV psychiatric disorders and suicidal behaviors in CBCL-JBD and non-CBCL-JBD subjects. Twin modeling assessed genetic and environmental contributions to CBCL-JBD. Associations with DRD4 and DAT1 were examined using chi-square tests.


RESULTS
The prevalence of CBCL-JBD was 2.5%. No subjects with CBCL-JBD met criteria for bipolar or other mood disorders. CBCL-JBD subjects had more oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), conduct disorder(CD), and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD). The CBCL-JBD profile was uncommon in these disorders. CBCL-JBD subjects more frequently endorsed suicidal behaviors. The CBCL-JBD profile was heritable and associated with the number of DAT1 9-repeat 3' untranslated region alleles.


CONCLUSIONS
The CBCL-JBD phenotype does not correspond with a semi-structured interview assessment of JBD. ADHD, CD, and ODD are common in children with CBCL-JBD but do not account for the profile. Increased suicidal behaviors indicate substantial impairment in CBCL-JBD subjects.
Volk
Heather E
HE
Doctoral Program in Public Health Studies, Saint Louis University School of Public Health, Saint Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.
Todd
Richard D
RD
D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008957:Models, Genetic; D010552:Personality Assessment; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010641:Phenotype; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D011594:Psychometrics; D050638:Receptors, Dopamine D4 / Q000235:genetics
D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D050638:Receptors, Dopamine D4