Bipolar disorder in children can have serious consequences on a child's emotional and social development. Originally thought to be a disease of adults, we now know that children can be victims of this disorder also.What do you need to know if your child has been diagnosed with childhood bipolar disorder?
Like adults, children with bipolar disorder can develop extreme mood swings ranging from periods of intense energy and activity to periods of depression where the child lacks the motivation to do anything. One difference between bipolar disorder in children and adults is that the mood swings may be less pronounced in children. A manic mood swing in a child may be characterized by more subtle symptoms such as irritability, impulsive behavior, and generalized restlessness. A down mood swing may manifest as boredom, loss of appetite, or a loss of interest in activities previously enjoyed. For this reason, diagnosis of bipolar disorder may be more difficult in a child. One clue would be a family history of the disorder since bipolar disorder tends to run in families. Other childhood disorders that can resemble bipolar disorder include ADHD, anxiety disorders, learning disorders, and personality disorders. It's important to have your pediatrician evaluate your child in order to determine the most likely diagnosis.
It's imperative that children with symptoms of bipolar disorder be diagnosed early because this disorder can lead to problems with social interaction, school performance, aggression and conduct problems, as well as self esteem issues. Even more disturbing is the fact that suicide may be more common in childhood bipolar disorder. The list of symptoms to look for is quite extensive and may include irritability, sadness, difficulty sleeping, low self esteem, and decreased appetite. During the manic phase, symptoms may consist of extreme irritability, high energy levels, impulsive behavior, rapid speech, impulsive behavior, and insomnia. This is why it's important that a child be evaluated if he or she exhibits any of these symptoms. Surprisingly enough, this is a fairly common disorder with estimates of incidence ranging from 2% to 5% in all children.
Once a child is diagnosed with childhood bipolar disorder, the treatment is usually multifaceted involving the use of medications and professional counseling. A variety of medications may be used including certain types of antidepressants know as SSRIs (serotonin reuptake inhibitors), anti-psychotics, and mood stabilizing drugs which may have anti-anxiety properties. Professional counseling will also be important to focus on the social and interpersonal problems a child might experience as part of this disorder. Treatment through this approach is usually high effective in most children.
