The purpose of the present paper was to compare currently available diagnostic guidelines for juvenile bipolar disorder with respect to utility in research and clinical practice. A systematic search of psychiatric, medical and psychological databases was conducted using the terms ‘juvenile bipolar disorder’, ‘paediatric bipolar disorder’ and ‘guidelines’.
Three main sets of guidelines issued by the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (UK), The National Institute of Mental Health (USA) and Child Psychiatric Workshop (USA) were found. There were key differences in the recommendations made by each regarding the diagnosis and symptomatic presentation of juvenile bipolar disorder. Although the diagnosis of juvenile bipolar disorder is gaining increased recognition, its definition remains controversial. It is recommended that clinicians and researchers need to develop diagnostic guidelines that have clinical salience and can be used for future research by incorporating key features of those that are currently available.
Authors: Catherine Cahill ; Tanya Hanstock; Rajeev Jairam; Philip Hazell; Garry Walter; Gin S. Malhi
Affiliations:
a University of Sydney Discipline of Psychological Medicine, Royal North Shore Hospital. Sydney. Australia
b Traumatic Stress Clinic, Westmead Hospital. Sydney. Australia
c The Bipolar Program. Newcastle, New South Wales. Australia
d University of New England and University of Newcastle. Newcastle, New South Wales. Australia
e Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Liverpool and Campbelltown Hospitals. Randwick, New South Wales. Australia
f University of New South Wales. Randwick, NSW. Australia
g Central Clinical School, University of Sydney. Sydney, New South Wales. Australia
h Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Sydney South West Area Health Service, Thomas Walker Hospital (Rivendell). Concord West, New South Wales. Australia
i University of Sydney. Sydney, New South Wales. Australia
j Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Northern Sydney Central Coast Health. New South Wales. Australia
k Academic Discipline of Psychological Medicine, Northern Clinical School, University of Sydney. Sydney, New South Wales. Australia
l CADE Clinic, Level 5, Building 36, Royal North Shore Hospital. St Leonards, New South Wales. Australia
DOI: 10.1080/00048670701342200
Publication Frequency: 12 issues per year
Published in: journal Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, Volume 41, Issue 6 June 2007 , pages 479 - 484
