Conclusion
Paediatric bipolar disorder is a relatively common,
multifactorially determined and recurring problem
which persists into adulthood. The condition probably
arises when genetically at-risk young people
with psychological and neurobiological vulnerabilities
which compromise their capacity for mood
regulation are exposed to stressful life events and
participate in ongoing stressful interactions with
their families. Clinical management involves assessment
of young people and their families with
psychometrically robust screening questionnaires
and structured interviews, followed by multimodal
treatment with medication (notably lithium) and
family-oriented psychotherapy. Treatment should be
offered within the context of a chronic care model of
service delivery, since bipolar disorder is a chronic
condition requiring life-long prophylaxis.
Declaration of interest: The author reports no
conflicts of interest. The author alone is responsible
for the content and writing of the paper