Bipolar Disorder from a Developmental Psychopathology Perspective: Focusing on Phenomenology, Etiology, and Neurobiology

The purpose of this chapter is to consider how a developmental psychopathology perspective can advance our understanding of bipolar disorder. In this chapter we start by discussing the phenomenology of the disorder. As this is a field in which scientific controversies abound, this section begins by placing bipolar disorder in a historical context. We consider the origins of current clinical diagnostic approaches and evaluate newly emerging empirical approaches that utilize dimensions of symptoms, behaviors, and neurobiological indexes. We then review prominent etiological theories of the illness, including work on environmental stressors and hazards as well as behavioral and genetic approaches. We highlight some of the most promising theories that account for both environmental and biological mechanisms of bipolar disorder. Additionally, because bipolar disorder can be considered a neurodevelopmental disorder, biological mechanisms are also discussed in the context of brain imaging research. We conclude the chapter with suggestions for translational research by considering how these developmental and neurodevelopmental models can inform intervention science and help identify promising new directions for future research.