Bipolar Disorder in Children and Teens | Bradley Hospital
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Bipolar Disorder
Children with bipolar disorder go back and forth between extreme emotional and behavioral states described as: mania and depression. All children have “mood swings” from time to time, but children with bipolar disorder have more extreme mood and behavior changes that are often not related to any particular events and also have changes in sleep, energy, and thinking. The frequency of these mood changes can vary among children.
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Although bipolar disorder is usually diagnosed in teens or adults, the disorder can begin in childhood.
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Signs and Symptoms
Typical manic signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder include:
Severe changes in mood—either unusually happy or silly or very irritable, angry, agitated, or aggressive
Unrealistically high sense of ability, knowledge, and power
Significant increases in energy and the ability to go with little or no sleep for days without feeling tired
Increase in talking—the child talks too much or too fast, changes topics too quickly, and cannot be interrupted
Distractibility—the child’s attention moves constantly from one thing to the next
Repeated high risk-taking behavior, such as abusing alcohol and drugs, reckless driving, or sexual promiscuity
Typical depressive signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder include:
Irritability, depressed mood, persistent sadness, or frequent crying
Thoughts of death or suicide
Loss of enjoyment in favorite activities
Frequent complaints of physical illnesses, such as headaches or stomachaches
Low energy level, fatigue, poor concentration, or complaints of boredom
Major changes in eating or sleeping patterns, such as overeating or oversleeping
Evaluation and Diagnosis
Bipolar disorder can be a very dangerous condition in children, with both the manic and depressive symptoms having an impact on all aspects of their lives. Unfortunately, diagnosing bipolar disorder is complex. Bipolar disorder can be diagnosed at any point in childhood, but it tends to be more common in adolescence. If you think your child has bipolar disorder, your child may need a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Mental Health Evaluations
Get Help at Bradley Hospital
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Bradley Hospital clinicians are specially trained to perform evaluations for children and adolescents, and will direct each child to the most appropriate and effective services for their needs. Call our Access Center at
1-855-543-5465
to get help.
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Treatment
Treatment of bipolar disorder benefits from a team-based approach. The team includes the child, the guardian, healthcare providers (such as child and adolescent psychiatrist, advanced practice registered nurse, psychotherapist) and other community members (school personnel, case manager, insurance care manager, etc.)
The treatment should address school, work, social, and family functioning. Treatment may include psychoeducation, psychotherapy, and mood stabilizing medications.
A family support group can also be helpful. If bipolar disorder is affecting the child’s ability to learn, adjustments may need to be made in their education program.
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Verrecchia Clinic for Children with Autism and Developmental Disabilities
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Resources
Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation
www.cabf.org
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
800-826-3632
www.ndmda.org
New Hope for Children and Teens with Bipolar Disorder: Your Friendly, Authoritative Guide to the Latest in Traditional and
Complementary Solutions
(2004)
By Boris Birmaher
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