Boris Birmaher et al. (2010) findings on bipolar disorder parent’s children were contrary to those of other studies. This was due to their different method of recruitment, assessment, and symptom definition. The Pittsburg Bipolar Offspring Study (BIOS) used cross-sectional assessment with psychiatric comorbidity as opposed to involving both biological parents in structured interviews. Variation in recruitment accounts for high comorbid diagnosis in BIOS parents. Offspring vulnerability to these conditions could be accelerated by substance use, conduct disorder, and ADHD.
In other studies, there was an overreliance on clinicians for the assessment of ADHD where caregivers and teachers could not differentiate the high-risk group from others. In BIOS, parents were involved and they gave their account. Bipolar systems (which are not developmentally sensitive) should not be labeled manic until they are proved to be bipolar related. Such symptoms are indicators of risk for a variety of future outcomes.
Prior studies also recruited parents from clinical settings but the BIOS used advertisement. The parents were interviewed and decisions were made after consultations with psychiatrists. Psychopathology for offspring is greatly influenced by parents. Studies had concentrated on school-going children but none focused on pre-scholars. That is why the participating parents requested the assessment. Out of the 51 students involved in this study, only 8 had a disruptive disorder with higher attention and externalizing scores which were to be used for generalization to a larger population. Among the symptoms noted were irritability, elation, decreased need for sleep, and mood labiality. On the extreme, the symptoms were mild.
Bad childhood events account for the major causes of schizophrenia. Such findings have led to calls for concerted efforts towards childhood brain development. Traumatized children’s brains have similarities with those of schizophrenic adults. Schizophrenic condition in children is thus not necessarily inherited. It is important to review epigenetic processes that have to do with stress and its traumatic causes. Childhood adversities cannot be ignored while a good environment for children reduces cases of schizophrenia.
Works Cited
Duffy, A., Grof, P., Hajek, T., & Alda, M. (2010). Resolving the Discrepancy in Childhood Bipolar High-Risk Study Findings.The American Journal of Psychiatry, 167(6), 716. Web.