CHILDREN OF PARENTS WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER - A METAANALYSIS OF RISK FOR MENTAL-DISORDERS

Objective: To compare the prevalence rates of mental disorders among c hildren of parents with bipolar disorder and of parents with no mental disorders. Method: Seventeen studies, meeting specific selection crit eria, were included in the metaanalyses. Risks for mental disorders am ong children were estimated by aggregating raw data from the selected studies. Results: Results indicate that in comparison with children of parents with no mental disorders, children of parents with bipolar di sorder are 2.7 times more likely to develop any mental disorder and 4. 0 times more likely to develop an affective disorder. The metaanalyses indicate that during childhood and adolescence, the risks for any men tal disorder and far affective disorders in children are consistently but moderately related to having a parent who suffers from bipolar dis order. Conclusions: Risk factors that could account for the psychopath ology observed in children of bipolar parents are explored.