Occurrence and accuracy of a register-based diagnosis of pediatric bipolar disorder: A nationwide cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the accuracy of a diagnosis of pediatric bipolar disorder in the Danish National Register compared to the patient charts. Second, we reported on the occurrence of a diagnosis of pediatric bipolar disorder during the study period. METHODS: All persons appearing in the Danish nationwide registers between 1995 and 2014 with an incident ICD-10 diagnosis of single hypomanic/manic episode or a diagnosis of bipolar disorder (summarized as bipolar disorder [BD]) before turning 18 years were identified (n = 521) and a random sample (n = 131) hereof was selected for chart review. Each chart was reviewed by two independent Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN) certified raters to assess whether symptoms documented in the chart were consistent with a formal diagnosis of BD according to the ICD-10 criteria or not. RESULTS: The formal diagnostic criteria for BD according to the ICD-10 were fulfilled in 48 charts (45.3%, 95% CI: [36.1%, 54.8%]) out of 106 reviewable charts, age at index = 16.4 ± 1.6 (range = 9.1-18.3) years. Cohen's Kappa ranged from 94.4% to 100%. The estimate of a lifetime prevalence up till the current age for bipolar disorder for those of aged 5-18 years, was 0.019% in 2014. CONCLUSION: Less than half of the register-based pediatric BD diagnoses were confirmed by chart review, which was lower than expected. The occurrence of a register diagnosis of pediatric BD was relatively low.

Diagnostic stability in children and adolescents with bipolar disorder, a nationwide register-based study.

BACKGROUND: Diagnostic stability of bipolar disorder (BD) in children and adolescents, beyond the first contact has been investigated sparsely. The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic stability of BD in children and adolescents using over two decades of nationwide register-based data, and to examine factors associated with change from BD to schizophrenia (ICD-10: F20.x), schizoaffective disorder (ICD-10: F25.x) or other primary psychotic disorders (ICD-10 F23.x-24.x and F28.x-29.x). METHODS: Danish register-based data for all incident BD patients diagnosed prior to age 18 years, between January 1st 1995 and December 31st 2014 (N = 519). We graphically illustrated diagnostic change at different follow-up times and studied variables associated with diagnostic change after 3-year follow-up using Poisson regression with robust standard error estimates. RESULTS: The diagnosis of incident BD was relatively stable. The diagnosis did not change for 93% of those followed for at least 6 months, and remained unchanged for 86% and 73% of those followed at least 3 years and 10 years, respectively. In patients followed for at least 3 years after index BD (N = 478), the risk of diagnostic change was 61% higher in males versus females. The risk of diagnostic change for patients diagnosed during hospitalization was 74% higher compared to patients diagnosed at outpatient clinics/emergency rooms. The risk of diagnostic change for patients abusing substances other than alcohol and cannabis was 173% higher compared to patients not abusing such substances. The risk of diagnostic change for patients previously diagnosed with schizophrenia or related diagnosis was 257% higher compared to patients not having been diagnosed with such diagnosis previously, while the risk of diagnostic change in offspring of parents with schizophrenia or related diagnosis was 126% higher compared to patients who did not have parents diagnosed with such disorders. CONCLUSION: Overall, the stability of the BD diagnosis in the Danish nationwide healthcare registers was high. Factors associated with risk of diagnostic change within 3 years of the initial diagnosis were being male, diagnosis given during hospitalization, substance abuse other than alcohol and cannabis, and a prior diagnosis of schizophrenia or related diagnosis in the patient or in their parents.

Risk of diabetes in children and adolescents exposed to antipsychotics: a nationwide 12-year case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: Antipsychotics are associated with weight gain and diabetes. The risk and rate of diabetes in children and adolescents treated with antipsychotics is unclear. METHOD: A longitudinal register linkage case-control study of diabetes in all psychiatric patients aged <18 years in Denmark was performed from January 1999 through the end of June 2010. Patients with and without antipsychotic exposure were compared regarding the occurrence of type 2 diabetes, defined as the prescription of oral antidiabetic medication. Regression analyses with type 2 diabetes as the dependent variable were conducted with sex, age, and diagnoses as covariates. RESULTS: We compared the risk of diabetes in 48,299 psychiatrically ill youth. Of 7,253 youth exposed to antipsychotics, 52 (0.72%; 95% CI = 0.52% - 0.91%) developed type 2 diabetes. Of 41,046 youth without exposure to antipsychotics, 111 (0.27%; 95% CI = 0.22% - 0.32%) developed type 2 diabetes. In a 25,033 + 16,013 logistic regression analysis, type 2 diabetes development was associated with antipsychotic drug exposure (odds ratio [OR] = 1.60; 95% CI = 1.08 - 2.36, p < .05) female sex, (OR = 4.48; 95% CI = 2.90 - 6.91, p < 0.001) and older age at first psychiatric diagnosis (OR = 1.19; 95% CI = 1.12 - 1.27, p < 0.001), but not with psychiatric diagnosis. In a Cox-regression analysis, shorter time to type 2 diabetes onset was associated with female sex (Hazard Ratio (HR) = 4.83; 95% CI = 3.05-7.66, p = 0.001), and older age at first psychiatric diagnosis (HR = 1.19; 95% CI = 1.12-1.28, p = 0.001), while antipsychotic exposure (HR) = 1.41; 95% CI = 0.92-2.16, p = 0.11) trended towards increasing the rate of diabetes. CONCLUSION: Antipsychotic treatment, female sex, and older age at psychiatric diagnosis were associated with a significantly more frequent type 2 diabetes onset in children and adolescents. Strict indications for antipsychotic treatment and routine cardiometabolic monitoring are crucial.