J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  2014 Sep;53(5):310-319. 10.4306/jknpa.2014.53.5.310.

Mental Disorders in Offspring of Parents with Bipolar Disorder

• Cho YS
• Lee HY
• Kwon YJ
• Jeong HY
• Shin JY
• Shim SH

• KMID: 2016567
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4306/jknpa.2014.53.5.310

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Information on the specificity of associations between parents with bipolar disorder (BPD) and risk of psychopathology in their offspring is limited. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of mental disorders in the offspring of individuals with BPD in South Korea.
METHODS
The sample consisted of 100 child and adolescent offspring (aged 6.0-18.9 years) from 65 nuclear families having at least one parent with BPD. Probands, offspring, and biological co-parents were interviewed using a semi-structured diagnostic interview and the offspring were evaluated using the Korean version of the Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL).
RESULTS
Sixty one of the 100 participants met the criteria for at least one mental disorder. Of these, 35 participants had a mood disorder, 35 had an anxiety disorder, and 29 had attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Thirty nine of the offspring had no psychiatric diagnosis. Of the 35 with a mood disorder, 16 (45.7%) had comorbid ADHD and 18 (51.4%) had comorbid anxiety disorders.
CONCLUSION
Offspring of parents with BPD are at high risk for mental disorders. These findings further support the heredity of BPD and indicate the need for early identification and treatment.

Keyword

Bipolar disorder; Offspring; Child ; Adolescent

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Anxiety Disorders
Bipolar Disorder*
Child
Heredity
Humans
Korea
Mental Disorders*
Mood Disorders
Nuclear Family
Parents*
Prevalence
Psychopathology
Sensitivity and Specificity

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 Incidence of mental disorders classified by age and sex of offspring (n=100). ADHD: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, DBD: Disruptive behavior disorders, MDD: Major depressive disorder, NOS: Not otherwise specified.

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