Life events and juvenile bipolar disorder: conceptual issues and early findings

There is increasing interest in the psychosocial variables that might predict the course of child and adolescent bipolar disorder. In the literature on adult bipolar disorder, life events have been shown to be a major predictor of symptoms. In this review, we focus on studies of how life events influence the course of child and adolescent bipolar disorder. To begin, we review methodological considerations in life events research, and briefly summarize the findings regarding life events in adult bipolar disorder. Then, we discuss available studies on life events as a predictor of the course of juvenile bipolar disorder. We conclude with suggested directions for future research.