Findings from bipolar offspring studies: methodology matters

摘要: Aim: High-risk studies provide the opportunity to describe early natural history of bipolar disorder (BD); however, findings have varied substantially. In this review, we compare different methods ascertainment and assessment, their impact on study findings. Methods: Through a literature search, identified 11 high-risk meeting inclusion criteria for review. Studies included were those that focused lifetime psychopathology in offspring as main outcome provided adequate information family ascertainment, well parent assessment. We compared contrasted psychopathological outcomes among using methods. Results: affected parents through involvement neurobiological research confirmed diagnosis best estimate procedures tended report lower rates co-morbidity proband parent, non-proband attention deficit hyperactivity externalizing disorders, older ages onset major mood disorders with self-referral structured interviews. severely ill used semi-structured assessments an intermediate position terms outcomes. Conclusions: This review indicates assessment pertaining clinical course BD studies. The implications finding mapping are discussed.