title: Impulsivity in Adolescent Bipolar Disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Increased impulsivity has been demonstrated to be a trait feature of adults with bipolar disorder (BD), yet impulsivity has received little study in adolescents with BD. Thus, it is unknown whether it is a trait feature that is present early in the course of the disorder. We tested the hypotheses that self-reported impulsiveness is increased in adolescents with BD, and that it is present during euthymia, supporting impulsiveness as an early trait feature of the disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  Impulsiveness was assessed in 23 adolescents with BD and 23 healthy comparison (HC) adolescents using the self-report measure of impulsivity, the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS), comprised by attentional, motor and nonplanning subscale scores. Effects of subscale scores and associations of scores with mood state and course features were explored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total and subscale BIS scores were significantly higher in adolescents with BD than HC adolescents. Total, attentional and motor subscale BIS scores were also significantly higher in the subset of adolescents with BD who were euthymic, compared to HC adolescents. Adolescents with BD with rapid-cycling and chronic mood symptoms had significantly higher total and motor subscale BIS scores than adolescents with BD without these course features.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest increased self-reported impulsiveness is a trait feature of adolescents with BD. Elevated impulsivity may be especially prominent in adolescents with rapid-cycling and chronic symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT.
authors.forename: Kirsten E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.forename: Jessica H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kalmar
authors.forename: Fay Y
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Womer
authors.forename: Philip J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Markovich
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pittman
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nolen-Hoeksema
authors.forename: Hilary P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Blumberg