Genetics of early onset bipolar affective disorder: are we making progress?

Though considerable progress has been made in understanding the molecular genetics of bipolar affective dis order, few studies are currently focusing on the genetics of prepubertal or early adolescent onset illness. A variety of studies of the phenomenology, imaging and comorbidity of early onset bipolarity find significant differences from late onset illness. These studies raise the notion that early onset cases may represent a distinct genetic form or forms of manic-depressive illness.