Objective: The aims of this study were to determine the rate of psychopathology in the children of parents with bipolar disorder and to examine the relationship between the psychopathology in these children and the characteristics of bipolar disorder in their parents.

Method: The study included 36 children of 28 bipolar I parents and 33 children of 28 control parents, all between the ages of 6 and 17 years. The bipolar parents and all of the children were screened using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Lifetime Version (SADS-L) and the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Aged Children, Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL), respectively. The spouses of bipolar parents completed the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) and the children completed the Parenting Style Scale (PSS).

Results: The rate of psychopathology was higher in the children of bipolar parents than in those of the control parents. Affective disorders and disruptive behavior disorders were observed with significantly greater frequency in the children of the bipolar parents. Attitudes in study group parents were related to the presence of psychopathology in their children.

Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that children of bipolar parents have an increased risk of developing psychiatric disorders, especially affective disorders and disruptive behavior disorders. The children of bipolar patients need to be screened for psychiatric symptoms and referred for psychiatric assistance when necessary.