Childhood Bipolar Disorder

Childhood bipolar disorder is often different than bipolar disorder in adults.  Bipolar disorder involves severe changes in mood and energy. States of extreme elation or irritability coupled with  high energy are called mania. Persistent states of extreme sadness or irritability accompanied by low energy are called depression.

However, the illness may look different in children than it does in adults. Children usually have an ongoing, continuous mood disturbances that are a mix of mania and depression. This rapid and severe cycling between moods produces chronic irritability and few clear periods of wellness between episodes. Childhood bipolar disorder can be very hard to diagnose and treat.

Diagnosis is made using the DSM-IV criteria and there is no lower age limit. The following are DSM-IV criteria for childhood bipolar disorder. However, it becomes more difficult to apply the DSM-IV criteria to very young children.

Behaviors reported by parents in children diagnosed with bipolar disorder may include:

• an expansive or irritable mood
• extreme sadness or lack of interest in play
• rapidly changing moods lasting a few hours to a few days
• explosive, lengthy, and often destructive rages
• separation anxiety
• defiance of authority
• hyperactivity, agitation, and distractibility
• sleeping little or, alternatively, sleeping too much
• bed wetting and night terrors
• strong and frequent cravings, often for carbohydrates and sweets
• excessive involvement in multiple projects and activities
• impaired judgment, impulsivity, racing thoughts, and pressure to keep talking
• dare-devil behaviors (such as jumping out of moving cars or off roofs)
• inappropriate or precocious sexual behavior
• delusions and hallucinations
• grandiose belief in own abilities that defy the laws of logic (ability to fly, for example)

If your child is experiencing most of these behaviors on a consistant basis, it is important for theme to see a qualified psychiatric physician immediately.  Do not wait to see if the behaviors improve.  If your child has childhood bipolar disorder, there is help to be found -  but only if you seek it.

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