Review: Reconsideration of bipolar disorder as a developmental disorder

Reconsideration of bipolar disorder as a developmental disorder: Importance of the time of onset

Pierre Alexis Geoffroy et al, J Physiology Paris, 2013

Eight admixture studies have demonstrated three homogeneous subgroups of patients with bipolar disorder, identi?ed by their age at onset (early, intermediate and late age at onset), with two cutoff points, at 21 and 34 years.

The early onset group had more: Suicide attempts, rapid cycling, drug and alcohol abuse, psychotic symptoms, panic disorder, OCD, and a positive family history for affective disorder. Early onset illness should be recognized and treated earlier.