Borderline personality and attention-deficit hyperactivity traits in childhood are associated with hypomanic features in early adulthood

Mistry, S., Zammit, S., Price, V.-E., Jones, H. J. and Smith, D. J. (2017) Borderline personality and attention-deficit hyperactivity traits in childhood are associated with hypomanic features in early adulthood. Journal of Affective Disorders, 221, pp. 246-253. (doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2017.06.039) (PMID:28662455)

Abstract

Background: There is limited understanding of the symptomatic development of bipolar disorder from childhood to early adulthood. Aims: We assessed whether borderline personality disorder traits, ADHD, and emotional, behavioural and social difficulties during childhood were associated with hypomania assessed in young adulthood. Method: We used data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), to examine associations between measures of childhood psychopathology and lifetime hypomanic features assessed at age 22–23 years using the Hypomania Checklist-32 (HCL-32; n = 3,372). We also conducted a factor analysis of the HCL to identify latent constructs underlying hypomania, and the extent to which childhood psychopathology was associated with these. Results: We identified two factors of the HCL corresponding to energy/mood and risk-taking/irritability. There was evidence of association between childhood borderline personality disorder traits and both hypomania factors, with evidence that the association was stronger with the risk-taking/irritability factor. All individual borderline traits, with the exception of fear of abandonment, were associated with hypomania. There was also evidence of association between most other measures of childhood psychopathology (ADHD, hyperactivity, conduct problems, peer relationship problems and reduced prosocial behaviour) and the risk-taking/irritability factor, but much less consistent evidence of association with the energy/mood factor. Limitations: The HCL cannot diagnose bipolar disorder and may be subject to reporting bias. Conclusions: A broad range of childhood psychopathologies may represent early markers of risk for hypomania. Further studies are required to understand the mechanisms underlying these associations, and to inform earlier detection of bipolar disorder.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: SM is funded by Mental Health Research UK. DJS is a Lister Institute Prize Fellow (2016-2021). The UK Medical Research Council and the Wellcome Trust (102215/2/13/2), and the University of Bristol provide core support for ALSPAC.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Smith, Professor Daniel
• Authors: Mistry, S., Zammit, S., Price, V.-E., Jones, H. J., and Smith, D. J.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Journal Name: Journal of Affective Disorders
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0165-0327
• ISSN (Online): 1573-2517
• Published Online: 23 June 2017
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V.
• First Published: First published in Journal of Affective Disorders 221:246-253
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher