Developmental Vulnerabilities to the Onset and Course of Bipolar Disorder

Patients with bipolar illness who have a history of early extreme adversity compared to those without, show an earlier onset of illness, faster cycling frequencies, increased suicidality, more Axis I & Axis II comorbidities, & more time ill in more than 2 years of prospective follow-up. The authors of this article explore a variety of neurobiological mechanisms & their interactions that could account for these childhood- & adolescent-onset bipolar illnesses. (111 refs)