Rapid cycling bipolar disorder in individuals with developmental disabilities

The assessment and treatment of the rapid-cycling variant of bipolar disorder in individuals with developmental disabilities is challenging. Outcomes are optimized by a long-term commitment to the establishment of objective monitoring systems by interdisciplinary teams. In this retrospective case series, we contrast the phenomenology, clinical outcomes, treatment responses, and clinical characteristics of 26 individuals with bipolar disorder and developmental disabilities, 12 with nonrapid cycling courses and 14 with rapid cycling courses. Similarities and differences are highlighted both within these two groups and in reference to published findings for individuals without disabilities.