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Article 1: Hauser, M., & Correll, C. U. (2013). The significance of at-risk or prodromal symptoms for Bipolar 1 Disorder in children and adolescents. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 58, 22–31. doi:10.1177/070674371305800106

Learning Objective: 14.1 Differentiate among Bipolar I, Bipolar II, and Cyclothymic Disorder and show how children might manifest these disorders differently than adults.

Describe some of the most common genetic, biological, and social-familial causes of bipolar disorders in children and adolescents.

Summary: Although bipolar disorder may have its onset in childhood, more often it begins in early adulthood. However, there is increasing evidence that there may be prodromal signs in adolescents, suggesting the need for improved screening of at-risk youth.

Questions to Consider:

1. What signs may indicate that a person is developing bipolar disorder? What risk factors increase the likelihood of bipolar disorder?
2. Why has it been difficult to identify a prodrome for bipolar disorder?
3. Why is work in this area important for prevention?
    

Article 2: Yung, A. R., Nelson, B., Baker, K., Buckby, J. A., Baksheev, G., & Cosgrave, E. M. (2009). Psychotic-like experiences in a community sample of adolescents: Implications for the continuum model of psychosis and prediction of schizophrenia. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 43, 118–128. doi:10.1080/00048670802607188

Learning Objective: 14.2 Describe the key features of Schizophrenia and show how children might display the signs and symptoms of this disorder differently than adults. Outline the neurodevelopmental model for Schizophrenia in children and adolescents

Summary: Psychotic experiences are generally viewed as something rare and out of the mainstream. This study examines psychotic-like experiences in a sample of 875 high school students. Results suggest that infrequent psychotic-like experiences are not uncommon and may not be associated with increased risk for psychotic disorder, although frequent experiences may be associated with a greater risk.

Questions to Consider:

1. What is the dimensional model of psychosis?
2. What were the different types of psychotic-like experiences that were identified? Which of these were most predictive of future problems?
3. Why do you think that magical thinking showed different results? What would be a good follow up study to investigate this?