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Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology
Cardinal Symptoms of Mania in Clinically Referred Preschoolers: Description of Three Clinical Cases with Presumptive Preschool Bipolar Disorder

To cite this article:
Joan Luby, Mini Tandon, Ginger Nicol. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology. April 2007, 17(2): 237-244. doi:10.1089/cap.2007.0131.

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Joan Luby, M.D.
Washington University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, St. Louis, MO.
Mini Tandon, D.O.
Washington University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, St. Louis, MO.
Ginger Nicol, M.D.
Washington University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, St. Louis, MO.

Despite a growing body of empirical data describing the discriminant and longitudinal validity of mania in older children, little research has been conducted investigating the presence of mania symptoms in preschool-aged children. This report describes three cases of preschool children (ages 3.6 to 5.2) who presented to a subspecialty mental health clinic manifesting age-adjusted mania-like symptoms. Developmental manifestations of DSM-IV mania symptoms described include grandiosity, hypersexuality, elation, racing thoughts, and decreased need for sleep. These symptoms have been shown to be highly specific to distinguish bipolar disorder from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in older children. Possible manifestations of mood cycling are also described. Clinical observations, parental reports, and related family mental health history are reviewed.

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Proposed Definitions of Bipolar I Disorder Episodes and Daily Rapid Cycling Phenomena in Preschoolers, School-Aged Children, Adolescents, and Adults
Barbara Geller, Rebecca Tillman, Kristine Bolhofner
Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology. Apr 2007, Vol. 17, No. 2: 217-222
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