Bipolar Disorder in Children



	Bipolar Disorder in Children Who has it and what you can do By Martha Hellander, J.D. Join our health discussion groups \| search our site

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	Menopause Books Diet & weight loss Books Healthy Living Books Holistic & Natural Medicine Aromatherapy Bipolar disorder (also known as "bipolar illness" or "manic-depressive illness") is a treatable neurobiological brain disorder characterized by severe fluctuations in mood and activity level. It is believed to occur in at least 1-2 percent of the adolescent and adult population, with bipolar spectrum disorders (such as mild cycling and recurrent depression) believed to occur in 5-7 percent. It can occur at any time of life from early childhood onward. According to the Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation (www.bpkids.org), as many as one million or more children under 18 in the U.S. may have bipolar disorder (mostly undiagnosed and untreated). Children with bipolar disorder are at risk for school failure, substance abuse, and suicide. Children as young as 3 may talk of wanting to "make myself dead." Mania (the activated state) may include insomnia, hyperactivity, daredevil acts, elation and grandiose thinking. Racing thoughts, separation anxiety and intense temper tantrums (also called "rages" or "affective storms") can occur during depression or mania. Sometimes symptoms of both states occur together in mixed states (depressed mood with high energy) or in quick succession within a single day (called rapid cycling). While in adults the illness is usually characterized by discrete periods of extreme euphoria followed by episodes of severe depression, usually separated by periods of normalcy, bipolar children may show no discernible mood cycles but rather sustained or rapidly fluctuating periods of high energy, volatility, oppositionality, grandiosity, irritability, anxiety and explosiveness. It is not uncommon for these children to have prolonged and violent tantrums, often triggered by the word "no." Families with a bipolar child can find that life at home revolves around the seemingly endless demands and needs of this child. Some children hold their emotions in check at school but fall apart in the safety and comfort of their own homes. This discrepancy in behavior can lead outsiders, including school personnel and extended family, to assume that faulty parenting is responsible for the child’s difficult behavior at home. In fact, parents of a bipolar child are often doing their best while bewildered, exhausted and frustrated, and in some cases they are afraid of their own children's violent impulses. They may become very isolated from friends and family, who may be judgmental of the child and the parents’ lack of control over the child’s behavior. The family may be further isolated if they avoid taking the child to public settings that might become the setting for a humiliating meltdown. Early intervention by a skilled clinician is essential, because early onset bipolar disorder can sometimes be difficult to diagnose. There is no specific test for the illness, the disorder is often accompanied by other psychiatric disorders, and many symptoms overlap. Bipolar disorder in children often begins with major depression marked by chronic irritability. Treatment with the wrong medications—stimulants and antidepressants in particular—can result in significant worsening of the illness. Prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment, however, can lead to much more stable lives for these children and their families. It is essential to treat bipolar disorder with medication, typically consisting of mood stabilizers in combination with other drugs, in order to stabilize the child's mood and to prevent worsening of symptoms. In addition, some kind of behavior or interpersonal therapy may be helpful to help children learn ways to control behavior and learn new behaviors, as well as come to accept the realities of their life-long disorder. The Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation (CABF) www.bpkids.org is a national, parent-led, not-for-profit organization focused on the needs of families raising children or teens diagnosed with, or at risk for, early-onset bipolar disorder. CABF's web site is a virtual community center offering on-line support groups, parent message boards, and a Learning Center with extensive science-based information on bipolar disorder. About the author Martha Hellander Executive Director and Webmaster Martha is committed to using evolving technology in innovative ways to serve the needs of children with bipolar disorder and their families. She is a graduate of the University of Minnesota School of Law who practiced family and appellate law in Minnesota and Chicago from 1978-l988. She is also an award-winning writer (Parenting Publications of America Best Feature Award 1992, Minnesota Book Award 1993). She founded an on-line parent support group on Compuserve in 1996 that merged into BPParents in 1997. In January, 1999, she convened and chaired (entirely on-line) the national steering committee that founded CABF. She works full-time as Executive Director and Webmaster of CABF. Meet the Author James D. Sutton, EdD, CSP author of "If My Kid’s So Nice… Why Is He Driving Me Crazy?" hosted by Joe Spataro with a FREE excerpt Chap7: The "Quick Fix" He speaks to us about a variant on ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder) called the "The Good Kid Disorder." As an educator, he has taught everything from grade school to graduate school. His interest in working with emotionally troubled youngsters motivated him to earn a doctorate in psychology. Today, Dr. Sutton addresses the needs of young people as a consulting psychologist, an author, and an accomplished speaker. Find out more. Bipolar Disorder in Children Author Judith Allee of Homeschooling on a Shoestring gives her thoughts on bipolar disorder in children and how it can often be confused with ADD. She says, "Many (maybe most) of the adults diagnosed with bi-polar seem to go through multiple diagnoses before finding help, partly because bi-polar is difficult to diagnose, and partly because doctors seem to be leery about "labeling" a child with bi-polar. Part of the confusion is that kids with bipolar may have very different symptoms from adults." Find out more. St. John’s Wort Something To Be Cheerful About! by Ruby Banyan Statistics show that 17 million Americans suffer from depression, more than half of whom shy away from seeking professional help. It’s no wonder that when books and television interviews endorsed an over the counter mood-elevating herb, the public responded enthusiastically. Doctors in Europe have long prescribed St. John Wort to patients suffering from depression. Find out more.		Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons Homeschool Your Child for FREE more Curriculum Guides more homeschooling books The Explosive Child Interview with author Ross Greene more ADD & ADHD books more special needs books more homeschooling books more dieting books more Healthy Living Books Holistic & Natural Medicine Aromatherapy Depression Living Without Depression and Manic Depression: A Workbook for Maintaining Mood Stability by Mary Ellen Copeland also see WHC: Psychology Those affected with depressive and manic depressive disorders can live fairly normal lives with proper treatment: this title provides self-help tips to supplement treatment programs, providing encouragement for self-advocacy and including recommendations for support and self-help therapy. From minimizing negative influences from the past to using peer counseling effectively, this provides a workbook packed with tips. The Prozac Alternative: Natural Relief from Depression With St. John's Wort, Kava, Ginkgo, 5-Htp, Homeopathy, and Other Alternative Therapies by Ran Knishinsky also see: St. Johns Wort A comprehensive guide to the use of St. John's wort and other alternative therapies for treatment of depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders. * Offers a comprehensive look at St. John's wort--the most significant * natural remedy for depression--including its history in herbalism, * current clinical uses, safety, and side effects. * Discusses other natural alternatives such as Kava, Melatonin, and * 5-HTP as treatment options to depression. Potatoes Not Prozac: A Natural Seven-Step Dietary Plan to Control Your Cravings and Lose Weight, Recognize How Foods Affect the Way You Feel by Kathleen DesMaisons, Kathleen, Ph. D. Des Maisons, kathle Desmaison, Candace B. Pert Addressing the millions of Americans who suffer from genetic sugar-sensitivity, this book presents a practical and workable eating program that uses everyday foods--with an emphasis on complex carbohydrates and vegetables--to balance blood sugars and ease depression National print ads. National author publicity. 5-city tour. 25-market national radio satellite tour.

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