Impulsivity in children and adolescents with mood disorders and unaffected offspring of bipolar parents

Marsal Sanches, Kathy Scott-Gurnell, Anita Patel, Sheila C. Caetano, Giovana B. Zunta-Soares, John P Hatch, Rene Olvera, Alan C. Swann, Jair C. Soares

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: Increased impulsivity seems to be present across all phases of bipolar disorder (BD). Impulsivity may therefore represent an endophenotype for BD, if it is also found among normal individuals at high genetic risk for mood disorders. In this study, we assessed impulsivity across four different groups of children and adolescents: patients with BD, major depressive disorder (MDD) patients, unaffected offspring of bipolar parents (UO), and healthy controls (HC). Subjects and Methods 52 patients with BD, 31 with MDD, 20 UO, and 45 HC completed the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11), an instrument designed to measure trait impulsivity. Results: UO displayed significantly higher total BIS-11 impulsivity scores than HC (p = 0.02) but lower scores than BD patients (F = 27.12, p < 0.01). Multiple comparison analysis revealed higher BIS-11 total scores among BD patients when compared to HC (p < 0.01) and UO (p < 0.01). MDD patients had higher BIS-11 scores when compared to HC (p < 0.01). Differences between MDD patients and UO, as well as between MDD and BD patients, were not statistically significant. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that trait impulsivity is increased among children and adolescents with mood disorders, as well as in unaffected individuals at high genetic risk for BD.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1337-1341
Number of pages5
JournalComprehensive Psychiatry
Volume55
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2014

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Psychology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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