If a young child has very severe depression is it more likely they will have mania as an adult.?

No.: Severity of depression does not predispose one to mania. In fact, if someone has a lifelong history of depressive episodes without mania, they are likely to have more depressive episodes. A history of bipolar disorder symptoms makes it more likely that they will have mania as an adult, especially if untreated.

No evidence: Agree with dr. Duvvuri, chilhood onset major depression is associated with a greater number of mdd episodes, longer episode duration, increased suicidality, and increased need for hospitalization for mdd compared with adult-onset illness. Also more likely to have a parental history of mdd.

No: Just because a child has severe depression does not mean he will develop manic depressive or bipolar disorder later. Consult a child psychiatrist.