Bipolar Syndrome in Children

For much of the last century, the psychiatric profession considered bipolar children to be non-existent. That is, they believed that bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, occurred only in adults, even though some early researchers had evidence suggesting that a few adults had symptoms that had indeed manifested before they were ten. But manic depression treatments were pretty much exclusively designed for adults until recent years, as a result of this belief. Finding any bipolar facts about symptoms or treatments for children was difficult for a long time.

New depression treatment has improved, but there is still far to go. Part of the problem is that many of the symptoms that manifest in bipolar children can overlap with those that occur with other disorders. For example, the intensity of a manic phase may closely resemble the hyperactivity associated with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Indeed, some children have both, and often the extra hint that the problem isn’t just ADHD is that the children are more aggressive and have more behavioral difficulties than if he or she only had ADHD. So finding the right medical treatments can be a real challenge, not to mention diagnosing the problem in the first place.

Anxiety disorders can also be an indicator that doctors should watch for manic depression as well, since children with these disorders are more likely also to develop bipolar disorder. Children with bipolar disorder may often have had treatment already for full-blown depressive episodes, which served as precursors for the later illness. Even irritability and hypersensitivity might be warning signs, if they last for days at a time.

Diagnosis is controversial, though, because children with bipolar disorder are much more likely to be diagnosed in the United States than in other parts of the world. Interpretations vary on whether this is because there is simply over diagnosis in the U.S., or whether US doctors are simply recognizing a problem that really exists. Bipolar info and interpretation of symptoms varies considerably from country to country.

The treatment options available for manic depression are also likely to vary between countries. Yet it’s important to settle the question about diagnosis, because if this disorder truly manifests in bipolar children, it seems to be more intense for them than for adults. Some antipsychotic drugs that are used to treat it carry the risk of liver damage, heart problems or even diabetes. But not using the drugs could put the children at increased risk of psychosis, cognitive impairment or suicide. To find the best possible treatment for these children, a correct diagnosis is crucial.

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