Exploring Behavioral Patterns in Youth Predisposed to Bipolar Disorder and the Role of Interpersonal Trauma Using the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Dataset

Introduction : Bipolar Disorder (BD) is a severe, persistent disorder that causes functional impairment. Besides heritability, environmental factors, such as traumatic experience, impact the development of BD. Little is known about the early developmental signs of this disorder; therefore, this study aims to look at the impact of interpersonal trauma on the early developmental signs of BD. Specifically, differences in psychopathological behaviors were investigated between (1) at-risk children to controls and (2) at-risk children who experienced an interpersonal traumatic event to those who did not. Methods : Using the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) dataset, participants with a first-degree relative with BD were identified (N _at-risk =625) and matched on sex and age to a control group (N _control =625). The Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (KSADS) was used to assess interpersonal trauma and psychopathological symptoms. The trauma (N _trauma =198) and no trauma subgroups (N _{no trauma} =428) were built from the at-risk population. Group comparison was conducted on depressive, manic, and anxiety symptoms. Results: Compared to controls, at-risk children exhibited a significantly greater number of manic symptoms at baseline, and depression and anxiety symptoms at two-year follow-up. No significant differences were found between the trauma and no-trauma groups at either baseline or follow-up. Discussion: These results confirm the presence of early symptoms in at-risk children, in line with the staging model of BD. Extended longitudinal research is needed to further investigate the potential specific role of trauma on its early behavioral patterns.