PSYCHIATRIC-SYMPTOMS AND SYNDROMES AMONG ADOLESCENT CHILDREN OF PARENTS WITH LITHIUM-RESPONSIVE OR LITHIUM-NONRESPONSIVE BIPOLAR DISORDER

Objective: The purpose of this Pilot study was to describe the initial course of psychiatric illness in the adolescent children of parents w ith bipolar disorder who were divined into two groups on the basis of their response to long-term lithium monotherapy. Method: Proband paren ts met Research Diagnostic Criteria for bipolar illness and predetermi ned criteria for a clear response or nonresponse to lithium prophylaxi s. All adolescent offspring were interviewed by a blinded interviewer using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophremia for Schoo l-Age Children, and final diagnosis was made by blinded consensus. Res ults: Psychiatrically ill children of lithium-responsive parents tende d to have affective disorders that remitted and followed a recurrent c ourse. Psychiatrically ill children of lithium-nonresponsive parents, however, manifested a broad range of psychopathology, had high rates o f comorbid illnesses, and experienced nonremitting affective illnesses . Conclusions: These results suggest that family history and course of illness are important factors to consider in the diagnosis and pharma cological treatment of affective disorders.