title: Bipolar disorder in children and adolecents: a clinical reality?
abstract: The appearance, the differential diagnosis and the prevalence of bipolar disorder in children and adolescents is discussed. Among adolescents bipolar disorder appears to have a similar prevalence in the US and The Netherlands. However, among children it is frequently diagnosed in the US and hardly in The Netherlands. It is concluded that bipolar disorder tends to start earlier in the US than in the Netherlands. It is hypothesized that this may be related to a higher use of stimulants and antidepressants by US children diagnosed as ADHD or depression, respectively.
authors.affiliation: 1Academic Hospital Rotterdam-Sophia Children's Hospital,Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry,Rotterdam,The Netherlands.
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Reichart
authors.affiliation: 2The University Medical Centre Utrecht,Department of Psychiatry,Utrecht,The Netherlands.
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Nolen
authors.affiliation: 3Altrecht Institute for Mental Health Care,Utrecht,The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wals
authors.affiliation: 3Altrecht Institute for Mental Health Care,Utrecht,The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Hillegers