Citation

Strober M, Schmidt-Lackner S, Freeman R, Bower S, Lampert C, DeAntonio M. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry 1995; 34(6): 724-731.

Affiliation

UCLA School of Medicine, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1995, American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry, Publisher Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/00004583-199506000-00012

PMID

7608045

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study was a 5-year naturalistic prospective follow-up of 54 consecutive admissions of adolescents to a university inpatient service with a diagnosis of bipolar I affective illness. METHOD: Subjects received structured clinical evaluations every 6 months after entry to establish time to recovery and subsequent relapse. Regression models were used to identify predictors of differential course. RESULTS: Rate of recovery varied by polarity of episode at time of entry, with quick recovery observed in subjects with pure mania or mixed states, and a protracted index episode in subjects with pure depression. Multiple relapses were most often seen in subjects with mixed or cycling episodes at intake. CONCLUSIONS: Polarity of illness may have utility in identifying bipolar adolescents with a more recurrent illness. Comparison with adult data suggests that recurrence risks may vary as a function of age at onset or stage of the disease process.

Language: en