Adverse life events and pediatric bipolar disorder in a community mental health setting

To determine the frequency and effects of exposure to adverse events in pediatric bipolar disorder. Charts of youths with bipolar disorder were retrospectively reviewed. Thirty-five of 66 (53%) had experienced maltreatment. Most (90.9%) had divorced or separated parents and 31.8% were adopted or in foster care. Exposure to adverse events was associated with delay of diagnosis (p = .010), psychiatric hospitalization (p = .035), residential treatment (p = .003) and a decreased response to treatment (p = .006). Exposure to adverse events may be common among pediatric bipolar patients and have a negative impact on prognosis.