Bipolar Disease in Children

A new study from The University of Pittsburgh found that children of bipolar parents have an increased risk of early-onset bipolar disease. They are also at a higher risk for other mood and anxiety disorders.

The study took over eight years to conduct and involved nearly 400 Pittsburgh area children.

Chief researcher Dr. Boris Birmaher said the time spent was necessary for accuracy.

"You have to follow the kids over time and observe the kid very carefully before you can make the diagnosis,'' he said.

According to the National Institute of Health, bipolar disease, also known as manic-depression, is a brain disorder that causes drastic shifts in a person's mood and ability to function. It typically develops in late adolescence or early childhood.

The study, published Monday in The Archives of General Psychiatry, was funded in part by federal dollars.
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