The costs related to treating children with bipolar spectrum disorders are likely to differ from adults. No cost-related study in bipolar disorder (19–25) has focused on children. Additionally, only two studies used data from 2003 or later.(19, 25) This is a critical limitation for several reasons. First, during the past decade, there has been a dramatic increase in the diagnostic prevalence among children. Second, there has been a growth in psychotherapeutic options for treatment (e.g., second-generation antipsychotics, anticonvulsants). Finally, inpatient lengths of stay among patients with mental illness, including children, has also decreased, (7) suggesting that costs for bipolar treatment may have shifted from inpatient to outpatient care.
