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Published on: February 19, 2010
Mania in six preschool children
Rameshwari V Tumuluru1, Elizabeth B Weller, Mary A Fristad
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA. tumulururv@upmc.edu
Insights
Preschool mania, a form of bipolar illness in young children, is identifiable and treatable. Studies show it affects 17% of hospitalized preschoolers and responds well to lithium treatment.
Area of Science:
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Pediatric Mental Health
- Mood Disorders
Background:
- Bipolar illness in preschool-aged children is rarely documented.
- Previous reports identified nine cases of preschool manic-depressive illness.
- A strong family history of affective illness is common in affected children.
Observation:
- Six preschool children (ages 3-5) diagnosed with bipolar illness were identified from a sample of 36 hospitalized children.
- This represents 17% of the hospitalized preschool population.
- All children presented with irritable mood, a strong family history of affective illness, and prior symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Findings:
- Bipolar illness in preschool children is an identifiable clinical entity.
- Five out of six children treated with lithium showed significant improvement.
- Preschool mania may respond to established pharmacological treatments.
Implications:
- Early identification and treatment of bipolar illness in preschoolers are crucial.
- Lithium may be an effective treatment option for pediatric bipolar disorder.
- Further research is needed to understand the long-term outcomes and treatment protocols for preschool mania.
Abstract:
At least nine cases of apparent preschool manic-depressive illness have been previously reported in the literature. In each of these children, a strong family history of affective illness was noted. In this report, the case histories of six preschool children ages 3 to 5 years with bipolar illness are summarized. These six were obtained from a sample of 36 consecutively hospitalized preschool children. Thus 17% of these hospitalized preschool children had bipolar illness. All had irritable mood, strong family history of affective illness, and previous presentation with symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. They were diagnosed following a thorough clinical interview. Five children were treated with lithium; all five improved. Preschool mania exists as an identifiable entity and may respond to classic pharmacologic treatments.
