Abstract

Studying young people at high genetic risk of bipolar disorder: preparing the ground for future prevention and early intervention

Author(s): Philip B Mitchell, Gloria Roberts,Melissa J Green

There has been a rapidly growing interest in early intervention and prevention for those at high risk of mental illness, with the hope that such an intervention will either prevent further progression or, at the least, attenuate the ultimate functional and symptomatic impact of these devastating disorders. The major focus of this research effort until now has been in relation to the development of schizophrenia, using the target of those young people at ‘ultra high risk’ (UHR) of psychosis – defined largely in terms of psychotic-like experiences or mild psychotic symptoms in combination with trait features (schizoid or schizotypal) of personality and/or a positive family history.