It has been found that bipolar disorder in children can start from as early as 6 years old. And is the case with children, they must be observed long enough to distinguish the difference between their bipolar behavior and their normal child behavior patterns. Also needed to be taken into consideration are the problems that children develop that can have similarities with bipolar disorders. But nonetheless, the same criteria used to diagnose adults are also used for the diagnosis of children. Modifications are needed though due to age.
Symptoms of Bipolar Children Disorders
Children with bipolar disorder are often misdiagnosed as having attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD). This is because ADHD and bipolar disorder share similar symptoms like hyperactive, irritable and being easily distracted. Therefore, it cannot be concluded that the child has bipolar mania due to these symptoms. Signs that are specific to bipolar disorder and not ADHD are sleeping too much, unusual sexual activities, jubilant and euphoric moods, flights of ideas and grandiose behaviors.
Children with grandiose behaviors act as if rules do not apply to them. They believe for example that they are so smart they can tell teachers what to do and tell other students what to learn. Other bipolar disorder children can be convinced that they can do superhuman deeds like jumping out of windows and will not be hurt. Bipolar children do not show signs of being tired even though they may have slept a mere 4 to 6 hours every night. They are very active when not asleep and can do things like moving furniture and playing games.
Adolescent and bipolar children have an unusual sexual activity. Even at that young age they are flirting and are using sexually explicit language and even go to the extent as trying to touch private parts of young and old alike.
Moods that are associated with bipolar mania are having euphoric moods almost hysterical to being very happy. You as an outsider would probably think that they are about to go to an exciting event or place. Teachers and parents usually are the first to notice these mood changes. When talking; children change topics rapidly because they have so many ideas running around their head even though it is not triggered by anything.
The other symptoms for bipolar children are the tendency to have many cycles of these behaviors during a day’s time. Going from the elated high moods all the way down to heavy depressed moods that can even cause suicide attempts.
Treatments for Children with Bipolar Disorder
The same medications that are often prescribed for adults who are bipolar are used to treat children and teenagers. Mood stabilizing agents such as lithium for one, valproate, and Tegretol (carbamazepine) have been thought to be of use in treating children. More studies are being done on this though. There is concern in many sectors for long time use of medication in children though.
Make sure your child is properly diagnosed before medicating them. Since ADHD and bipolar disorder can overlap in some of their symptoms this is a difficult job to tell the difference. Make sure to use a doctor who has a background with bipolar disorder in children to treat your child.
