[Bipolar episodes in adolescents: diagnostic issues and follow-up in adulthood].
BACKGROUND
Little is known on the phenomenology and potential prognosis factors of bipolar episodes in adolescents. In particular, very few studies examine this issue on inpatients in the European context of free access to care.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the follow-up in adulthood of acute manic and mixed episodes in hospitalized adolescents and the predictive value of psychological testing.


METHODS
80 subjects, aged 12 to 20 years, consecutively hospitalized for a manic or mixed episode between 1994 and 2003, were contacted in 2005-2006 for a follow-up assessment. 5 patients refused, 20 were lost, 55 patients were assessed by direct and complete interview (67%) or by phone and treating psychiatrist (33%).


RESULTS
At index episode, the sample was characterized by severe impairment, high rates of psychotic features (N = 50, 62,5%), a long duration of stay (mean = 80,4 days), and an overall good improvement at discharge from hospital (86% very much or much improved). Half had a psychological testing before discharge. At follow-up (mean average 5 years), 35 patients still had a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Eight changed life-time diagnosis for schizoaffective disorder and 11 for schizophrenia. Mortality and morbidity were severe with one subject who died from cardiac failure, and 91% of patients who had at least one relapse. Patients without relapse (N = 5) and patients showing a good social functioning (N = 19) remained with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Using a clinical global impression method, psychological testing (blind with follow-up status) was significantly correlated with transition to schizophrenia spectrum disorder.


CONCLUSIONS
Contrarily to what is seen in less severe sample of bipolar disorder, changes in life time diagnosis can occur during follow-up after a manic or mixed episode in adolescence, as many patients are in the schizophrenia spectrum in adulthood.
AP-HP, groupe hospitalier Pitié-Salpétrière, Service de Psychiatrie de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent, Paris cedex 13, France. david.cohen@psl.ap.hop-paris.fr
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Cohen
J-M
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Guilé
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Brunelle
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Bodeau
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Louët
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Lucanto
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Consoli
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology; D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology; D012008:Recurrence; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D055815:Young Adult
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents