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» Schizophrenia
- Featured Stories - Schizophrenia Research - Recently Diagnosed » Depression - Featured Stories - Depression Research - Recently Diagnosed » Bipolar Disorder - Featured Stories - Bipolar Disorder Research - Recently Diagnosed » Anxiety - Generalized Anxiety - Panic Disorder - Phobias - Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - Post-Traumatic Disorder - Featured Stories - Anxiety Research - Recently Diagnosed  Childhood Disorders
- Childhood Anxiety Disorder - Autism - Attention Deficit- Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) - Childhood Depression - Eating Disorders - Childhood Schizophrenia - Featured Stories - Childhood Disorders Research - Recently Diagnosed |
 Childhood Bipolar Disorder  Although once thought rare, research findings, clinical experience, and family accounts provide substantial evidence that bipolar disorder can occur in children and in adolescents. Bipolar disorder, formerly known as manic-depression, is a type of mood disorder marked by extreme changes in mood, energy levels and behavior. While many children experience mood swings as a normal part of growing up, bipolar disorder causes these feelings to significantly interfere with their ability to function daily in school, with peers, and at home with family. Children as young as six have been diagnosed with the disorder, and approximately 7 percent of children seen at psychiatric facilities fit the criteria for bipolar disorder. Because it is still an under-recognized illness, it is also believed that up to one-third of the 3.4 million children and adolescents with depression in the United States may actually be experiencing the early onset of bipolar disorder. Symptoms and Diagnosis Bipolar disorder begins with children alternating rapidly between extremely high moods (mania) or low moods (depression). These rapid mood shifts can produce irritability with periods of wellness between episodes, or the young person may feel both extremes at the same time. Like children with depression, children with bipolar disorder are likely to have a family history of the illness. Bipolar disorder is one of the more difficult illnesses to diagnosis properly. The reason being that many symptoms of the illness can resemble or co-occur with those of other childhood-onset mental disorders (e.g. ADHD). These "co-occurring" disorders complicate the diagnosis and often contribute to the lack of recognition of the illness in children early on. In addition, symptoms of bipolar disorder may be initially mistaken for normal emotions and behaviors of children and adolescents. Treatment Bipolar disorder is treatable and early identification, diagnosis, and treatment help children reach their full potential. A combination of medication, professional help and support from family, and friends should be included in the comprehensive treatment plan. Whenever possible, the child should also be involved in making treatment decisions. Until more scientific data is available, clinicians are left using their best judgment on how to best treat children based on medications that have been effective in adults. These are largely three main types of drugs -- Lithium, anticonvulsants and atypical neuroleptics. Research on the effectiveness of these and other medications in children and adolescents with bipolar disorder is ongoing. In addition, studies are investigating various forms of psychotherapy, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, to complement medication treatment for this illness in young people. If you think your child may be experiencing symptoms of Bipolar Disorder, trained medical help should be sought immediately. Families can turn to child psychiatrists and psychologists and developmental/behavioral pediatricians. These individuals are those who are most often trained in childhood bipolar disorder or in the diagnosis of other childhood mental disorders. » NARSAD's Role in Childhood Disorders Research
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