RESUMO
The present paper provides an overview of child and adolescent bipolar disorder for paediatricians. Epidemiology, premorbid characteristics, clinical characteristics, differential diagnosis, comorbidity, course, prognosis and multimodal treatment are reviewed. The rate of child and adolescent bipolar disorder appears to be increasing. It manifests with symptoms consistent with the developmental level of the patient, which can make diagnosis difficult. Compounding the diagnostic difficulty is the frequent presence of comorbid conditions. Early recognition and treatment are critical given the severe morbidity associated with this condition. Thus, it is essential that paediatricians and other primary care physicians are familiar with this disorder to recognize its presence and activate appropriate multimodal treatment.
RESUMO
The present paper provides an overview of the clinical diagnosis and presentation, epidemiology, coexisting problems, and treatment issues of child and adolescent depressive disorders, with a focus on major depressive disorder (MDD). Depression is a common and potentially debilitating disorder for youth; has significant comorbid, behavioural and systemic sequelae; and is associated with a significant suicidal risk. Although rigorous study of psychosocial and pharmacological treatment modalities is in its infancy, current treatment is also informed by judicious and patient-specific clinical judgment. In view of the duration of MDD, remission and recurrence rates, morbidity, and potential chronicity of impaired psychosocial functioning, both active treatment and research involving MDD are indicated.
