Symptoms Outdo Diagnoses

Symptoms Outdo Diagnoses in Predicting Bipolar Disorder in At-Risk Youth

February 26, 2016 • Science Update

Three types of symptoms emerged as powerful predictors of whether a youth with one parent with bipolar disorder will go on to develop the disorder, according to a study of 391 at-risk youth. The findings offer a much more specific roadmap than previously available for assessing risk of bipolar disorder early in at-risk youth, and one that is based on symptoms, not traditional psychiatric diagnoses. The symptoms identified—related to anxiety/depression, affective lability (unstable mood, including irritability), and low-level manic symptoms—also provide insight into what may be a high-risk syndrome or “prodrome” preceding the onset of bipolar spectrum disorder.

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/news/science-news/2016/symptoms-outdo-diagnoses-in-predicting-bipolar-disorder-in-at-risk-youth.shtml