Child Comorbidity, Maternal Mood Disorder, and Perceptions of Family Functioning Among Bipolar Youth

• NCJ Number: 215172
• Journal: Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Volume: 45 Issue: 8 Dated: August 2006 Pages: 955-964
• Author(s): Christianne Esposito-Smythers Ph.D.; Boris Birmaher M.D.; Sylvia Valeri Ph.D.; Laurel Chiappetta M.S.; Jeffrey Hunt M.D.; Neal Ryan M.D.; David Axelson M.D.; Michael Strober Ph.D.; Henrietta Leonard M.D.; Holly Sindelar Ph.D.; Martin Keller M.D.
• Date Published: August 2006
• Length: 10 pages
• Grant Number(s): MH59929; MH59977; MH59691
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Mental Health
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study of 389 children and adolescents diagnosed with pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD) examined the association between those children with co-occurring psychiatric disorders, their mothers having a mood disorder, and parents' and children's perceptions of family cohesion and conflict.

Abstract

The study found that when the mother of a child with PBD had a mood disorder, there was a significant likelihood of low family cohesion. When a child had an acting out disorder, with or without a co-occurring anxiety disorder, there was a significant likelihood of lower family cohesion as well as higher family conflict. The link between a mother's mood disorder and family functioning was stronger when the child had an acting out disorder. Thus, children with PBD and a co-occurring psychiatric disorder, together with their mothers having a mood disorder, were associated with worse family functioning. This suggests that family-based treatments for children with PBD will be more effective if they integrate treatment for a child's co-occurring psychiatric disorders and the mother's mood disorder. The 389 children with PBD completed a diagnostic interview and instruments that assessed family psychiatric history and functioning. Family functioning was assessed with the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scales-II and the Conflict Behavior Questionnaire. 4 tables and 35 references