Comorbid Disorders as Moderators of Response to Family Interventions Among Adolescents with Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar adolescents with comorbid ADHD who received FFT-A showed an 18% decrease in (hypo)manic symptoms from 9 to 24 months, while those with ADHD who received EC had a 2% increase over the same inte

Effect: improvement; 18% decrease in (hypo)manic symptoms from 9-24 months (FFT-A+ADHD) vs 2% increase (EC+ADHD)

Bipolar adolescents with comorbid ADHD who received FFT-A showed reductions in family conflict that converged with the non-ADHD group by the end of the study, while those with ADHD in EC continued to

Effect: improvement; F(6,382)=2.29

Comorbid ADHD was predictive of greater family conflict throughout the 2-year study in bipolar adolescents.

Effect: decline; F(1,122)=14.02

Adolescents with bipolar disorder and comorbid ADHD spent a significantly greater percentage of time with (hypo)manic symptoms over 2 years compared to those without ADHD.

Effect: decline; 31.8% (SD=26.2) vs 19.4% (SD=20.0)

Adolescents with bipolar disorder and comorbid anxiety spent a significantly greater percentage of time with depressive symptoms over 2 years compared to those without comorbid anxiety.

Effect: decline; 47.8% (SD=27.5) vs 34.3% (SD=26.8)

Bipolar adolescents with comorbid anxiety showed no differences in (hypo)manic symptoms during active treatment but diverged during the post-treatment phase, with significantly higher (hypo)manic symp

Effect: decline; F(6,503)=3.38 (anxiety x time interaction)

Bipolar adolescents with comorbid anxiety showed no difference in family conflict during active treatment but diverged in the post-treatment period, with significantly higher conflict by study end com

Effect: decline; F(6,383)=3.66 (anxiety x time interaction)

Adolescents with bipolar disorder and comorbid disruptive behavior disorders had greater depressive symptom severity over the 2-year study compared to those without DBDs.

Effect: decline; F(1,127)=4.16

Adolescents with bipolar disorder and comorbid disruptive behavior disorders had consistently higher family conflict throughout the 2-year study compared to those without DBDs.

Effect: decline; F(1,128)=15.93

Comorbid anxiety disorders and disruptive behavior disorders did not moderate the effects of FFT-A versus EC on mood symptoms or family conflict over 2 years, meaning both treatments were equally (in)

Effect: null

Bipolar adolescents with comorbid ADHD were initially slower to improve in (hypo)manic symptoms, with more severe symptoms at 3 months compared to those without ADHD.

Effect: decline; F(6,500)=2.22 (ADHD x time interaction)