Bipolar Disorder in Children
Bipolar disorder in children is often confused with AD/HD. Because of overlapping symptoms, it's often extremely difficult to differentiate bipolar disorder from AD/HD, and it's not uncommon for someone to have both disorders.
The younger the child, the more difficult it is to diagnose something like bipolar disorder, as younger children tend not to have discreet cycles and other symptoms as do adults.
Bipolar disorder is both under diagnosed and over diagnosed. Most children with "rages" do not have bipolar disorder--the best description of these children is in the book, "The Explosive Child," by Ross W. Greene, Ph.D. This is the best book about children who are difficult, inflexible, and explosive.
The best description of bipolar children is in the book, "The Bipolar Child," by Demitri and Janice Papolos, although many children with severe AD/HD would be called bipolar following their classification. Another book that might help sort things out is, "It's Nobody's Fault," by Harold Koplewicz, M.D. Dr. Koplewicz describes common psychiatric problems in children, as well as their treatment.
Many children who are severely hyperactive and rageful as children, and are diagnosed as having bipolar disorder as children, often do not have the diagnosis as young adults. When there is doubt about diagnosis, a slow reduction in medications that potentially have significant side effects is a reasonable option.
When bipolar medications are suddenly stopped or decreased too quickly, bipolar symptoms often return very dramatically. Unfortunately, if a child is seen by ten different doctors, there might get ten different responses. The best thing to do is:
Related Topics: Is it ADHD or Bipolar Disorder?, A Ride on the Bipolar Rollercoaster
Technorati Tags: ADHD, AD/HD, bipolar disorder, pediatric psychiatry
The younger the child, the more difficult it is to diagnose something like bipolar disorder, as younger children tend not to have discreet cycles and other symptoms as do adults.
Bipolar disorder is both under diagnosed and over diagnosed. Most children with "rages" do not have bipolar disorder--the best description of these children is in the book, "The Explosive Child," by Ross W. Greene, Ph.D. This is the best book about children who are difficult, inflexible, and explosive.
The best description of bipolar children is in the book, "The Bipolar Child," by Demitri and Janice Papolos, although many children with severe AD/HD would be called bipolar following their classification. Another book that might help sort things out is, "It's Nobody's Fault," by Harold Koplewicz, M.D. Dr. Koplewicz describes common psychiatric problems in children, as well as their treatment.
Many children who are severely hyperactive and rageful as children, and are diagnosed as having bipolar disorder as children, often do not have the diagnosis as young adults. When there is doubt about diagnosis, a slow reduction in medications that potentially have significant side effects is a reasonable option.
When bipolar medications are suddenly stopped or decreased too quickly, bipolar symptoms often return very dramatically. Unfortunately, if a child is seen by ten different doctors, there might get ten different responses. The best thing to do is:
- Read everything available to educate yourself as much as possible (you need to become the expert)
- Talk to other parents who have experienced similar difficulties
- Find the best therapists and psychiatrists you can find that are willing to work with you in a collaborative way to arrive at a diagnosis.
Related Topics: Is it ADHD or Bipolar Disorder?, A Ride on the Bipolar Rollercoaster
Technorati Tags: ADHD, AD/HD, bipolar disorder, pediatric psychiatry
14 Comments:
I agree that you need to read up on bipolar disoder in children to become an expert on the subject. But as a parent of a teen who is bipolar and a husband who is also bipolar, I am already an expert on them. Sometimes parents of children with neurobiological disorders are not listened to when it comes time to diagnose or treat their child. I've worked professionally in the mental health advocacy field and the most important thing I would tell parents then (and now): Remember you are the expert on your child -- you've been there from day one and you are there 24-7.
brainplace.com is an excellent resource that combines science and common sense. Lots of practical discussion, research summaries to help figure out what types of things will help specific classes of symptoms.
I have Restless Legs Syndrome. I take Paxil for depression. I believe I have ADHD. I have all the symtoms. My doctor prescribed Mirapex for my legs. Should I take this medicine? My Grandmother took medicine for Parkinsons and it made her crazy. I don't want to be like that. I am going to try Super b vitamins first. If I did have adhd would mirapex help it? Confused.
Very helpful post.
http://www.selfhelpzone.com/category/attention-deficit-disorder/
I have read everything that I could for children with bipolar, my son is 8 and was diagnosed when he was 6 years old. I've taken him to doctor's counselors, phsychiatrist, and nothing has worked. The medication is like candy to him, he has been suspended from school about 8 times this year and I can't get any help from them at all. What do I do???????
To the last anonymous responder with the 8-yr-old son who has Bipolar Disorder,
We encourage you to talk with others on our Depressed & Bipolar Kids: Family Support message board.
I am a 17 yr old female with bipolar disorder and ADD.
It is hard to be part of the mental health community and not learn a lot about it, I found that it was my experience, rather than my reading sources that taught me what I know of my diseases.
I suggest for younger children, not to read too much information about your diagnosis, as I found that I had new symptoms as I learned more.
One book I really enjoyed was The bipolar child, I read parts of it with my mother and it was fun and interesting to listen to the stories of me as a child with Bipolar. I think it encouraged a positive self image without denying what I have.
I have a 7yr old daughter who's attitude has drastickly changed over in a year.First it started from not sitting in her chair in school or just talking too much. Day after day her behavior in school started getting worse,and now it is to the point where she is throwing chairs and pencils at other classmates. She throws tantrums,runs in circles screaming when she doesn't want to do as she is told. Her teacher advised us to take her to see a doctor.At first I thought she was just wanting to be like other kids that didn't want to listen to the teacher but as things get worse in school and at home, I start to worry and seek some advise from other parents and professionals that can maybe help.
IM AM 29 YEAR OLD AFRICAN AM ERICAN WOMAN WHO 8 YRS OLD SON IS BATTALING WITH BI-POLAR EXCUSE MY IGNORANCE BUT I THOUGHT THIS ONLY HAPPEN TO WHIT PEEPOLE I DONT FEEL THERE A LOT OF SUPPORT IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY ON THIS TOPIC IM LOST AND I NEED WAYS TO HELP MY SON
mrs krw,
Here is a link to our Bipolar Disorder center. We also have a message board to discuss Bipolar Disorder which might be helpful.
My son was diagnosed with ADHD/Bipolar disorder. He's been on just about every medication MDs could give him, counseling & support, everything a parent can do
The best advice I can give to a parent of ADHD/bipolar disorder is to let yourself off the hook--you've done everything you can. But you must realize "your child is never going to get better. I was told this when my son was in his teens, and it was hard to hear. I believed that if I could just find the right medication, he would be "right as rain".
I think if you're in a dual parent situation, or one with strong family ties, things will be better for you than they were for me. The other advice I can give, from experience, is to "Soldier On" you don't have a choice, and the child does grow up. EVE
For all of you with bipolar childen...I have a 12 year old son that was diagnosed at the age of 10 during a 2 weeks hospitalization. We went through years of "h***" very similar to what some of you have posted. Even the year after his diagnosis was difficult as we tried to find the right combo of meds and therapy. I read and learned everything I could get my hands onto and was very open with my son about his disgnosis. I described him having to take meds as similar to his friend with diabetes. They both have to take their meds every day or they could get very sick and die. I lost my dad to suicide from Bipolar Disorder and I am determined to NOT lose my son to this disease too! My advice to you is to not ever give up. we went to many different docs before finding the right ones. Don't give up on meds either...I was about to. We had to try many different doses and combos before we found the right one. My son just finished his best year of school ever and is even about to take a week long Boy Scout trip by himself with is troop (w/o mom or dad). A year ago, I would NEVER have sent him by himself! My son will never be "normal" without meds but with meds and therapy he can live as normal a life as he chooses! Know that it can get better...and when it does, it is so amazing!
my 15yr was diagnosed with adhd at age 8, but as time went on i would hear the same complaints from each of his teachers,"when your son having a good day he is such a joy to be around but, when he is in a bad mood he shut down and we can't get anything in or anything out of him." I heard this comment so many times but i never associated it with bipolar disorder eventhough my father has bipolar disorder. I was ignorant and stuck on his adhd dignosis and when i think back the first therapist he saw wanted to put him on anti-depressants and i was totally against it because i could not believe an 8yr old could be depressed, now he's 15yrs old and he failed the eight grade once and has been socially promoted to the ninth because he sat in class for two whole years being non-productive. So now i need to find a medication that will encompass both the adhd and bipolar. HELP
I have a 6 year old boy! His dad was dignosed with beginning bipolar. We are divorced and I don't know for sure about if my son has it. Sometimes he is great and on track but sometimes something clicks with him and he is a total different child. He acts out trys to destroy everybodies stuff and wants to keep everybody in a up roy. Then you correct him and he acts like he doesn't know why he is in trouble like it is uncontrolled. An suggestion would be great.
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