| Bipolar disorder is a being diagnosed in children as | | | | business and often masks the symptoms of the |
| young as six years old in recent years. Some | | | | disorder. Bipolar disorder in children should always |
| doctors think this is a good assessment of many | | | | be considered when drugs are being used by |
| children while others think the diagnosis is | | | | them, if only to rule it out. |
| overdone. While it may be just an intellectual | | | | Bipolar disorder in children who are older, such as |
| controversy to some, others who know a child | | | | teenagers, is still different from the adult disorder |
| who may have bipolar disorder will not be | | | | in that the person with the disorder is still a minor. |
| amused. It is important therefore to take into | | | | This leads to situations where the older child has |
| account all the facets of the disorder. | | | | an adversarial relationship with authorities and is |
| It is a tricky diagnosis to say the least. Bipolar | | | | therefore hard to convince that treatment is a |
| disorder in children often appears similar to ADHD, | | | | good thing. |
| or as simply rambunctious childhood behavior. | | | | There are some ways to cut down on the |
| Young children may cycle fast, meaning that they | | | | confusion. Speaking with the child's teachers gives |
| go from a depressed state to a manic state and | | | | an outside opinion of how the child is doing |
| back, etc. very quickly, often within weeks or | | | | day-to-day. Also, this shows how the child fares in |
| even days. | | | | a different setting from the home environment. |
| Suicide attempts often happen on the spur of the | | | | Bipolar disorder in children, if it is masquerading as |
| moment, with little or no warning. This is different | | | | some other form of disorder or behavior, is more |
| than in most adults where the depression is often | | | | likely to be found out if more people are alert to |
| long-lasting and suicide attempts may be well | | | | its symptoms. |
| thought-out. For this reason it is imperative that | | | | Getting a second opinion is also very important, |
| children with the disorder be treated successfully. | | | | since so many doctors disagree on bipolar |
| Bipolar disorder in children often presents in mania. | | | | disorder in children. Once the second opinion is |
| In the younger children this is often likely to come | | | | obtained, the family can make a more informed |
| with hallucinations, both auditory and visual. It may | | | | decision as to what the problem is and how to |
| seem that these would be difficult to distinguish | | | | proceed. Doctors may not all agree on bipolar |
| from a healthy imagination. Sometimes, in fact, it | | | | disorder in children, but a second opinion should |
| is. Many times, though, the visions and voices are | | | | help to clarify the situation. The parent or guardian |
| more disturbing and threatening than a healthy | | | | can listen carefully and determine if the doctor's |
| child would imagine. | | | | explanation sounds accurate. Then, ultimately, it is |
| Teens with bipolar disorder are, for the most | | | | the parents' job to make the call. Misdiagnosis and |
| part, similar in their symptoms to adults. A major | | | | wrong treatment would be unthinkable, but if |
| complicating factor with teens is the use of drugs | | | | bipolar disorder in children is the correct diagnosis, |
| and alcohol. As with adults, this practice of trying | | | | it is surely better to accept it. |
| to use street drugs and alcohol to control mood | | | | To learn more, check out Bipolar Disabilities Guide. |
| swings, is called "self-medicating." It is a dangerous | | | | |