OBJECTIVE:

The study examined 1-year recovery and relapse rates for mania in subjects who met criteria for a prepubertal and early adolescent bipolar disorder phenotype.

METHOD:

Outpatients identified by consecutive new-case ascertainment were assessed by means of separate child and parent interviews, consensus conferences, and blind best estimates. The definition of the prepubertal and early adolescent bipolar disorder phenotype was DSM-IV mania with elation and/or grandiosity as one criterion.

RESULTS:

Of 93 subjects seen at baseline, 89 were seen at 1 year (95.7% retention). The rate of recovery from mania was 37.1%, and the rate of relapse after recovery was 38.3%. No covariates were significantly associated with recovery or relapse.

CONCLUSIONS:

The low recovery and high relapse rates supported the study hypothesis of poor outcomes, which was made on the basis of similarity between the characteristics of the prepubertal and early adolescent bipolar disorder phenotype (long episode duration and high prevalence of mixed mania, psychosis, and rapid cycling) and those of severe bipolar disorder in adults.