Side Effect Study of Antipsychotic Medicines to Treat Childhood Bipolar Disorder

This protocol is a six month, randomized, open label trial of risperidone versus aripiprazole in antipsychotic naive youth (7 - 12 years old) who have been identified by their clinical treatment provider as needing antipsychotic treatment of a bipolar disorder. This study proposes to monitor changes in metabolic parameters (body mass index percentile, % body fat, insulin resistance, and lipid levels) over the course of six months treatment with aripiprazole or risperidone in youth with a bipolar spectrum disorder. We will also assess possible mechanisms of second generation antipsychotic induced weight gain by monitoring physical activity and hunger/appetite changes over the course of treatment.