Bipolar disorder in children

Often other psychiatric disorders are diagnosed in bipolar children. These other diagnoses may be concurrent problems, or they may be misdiagnosed as bipolar disorder. Depression, ADHD, ODD, schizophrenia, and Tourette syndrome are common comorbid conditions. [citation needed]

Misdiagnosis can lead to incorrect medication. Incorrect medications can trigger mania and/or suicidal ideation and attempts. The energy, impulse control difficulties, and lack of maturity in bipolar children can make suicide risk a serious concern, even with children younger than 8 years old. [citation needed]

During severe episodes of mania and mixed states, a child may suffer from symptoms of psychosis. These episodes can be negative (such as thinking their poster on the wall is staring at them angrily) or positive (such as telling people that a rock band is coming to his or her birthday party). [citation needed]

There are many medications which can help calm the symptoms of bipolarity, including in children and adolescents. However, finding the right medicine or combination of medicines is not easy. An exact scientific means of choosing medication for bipolar treatment does not exist. With children this problem is made worse by the fact that as children grow, their weight, metabolism, hormones, brain structure, etc. changes. These changes often require adjustments in the medication(s), significantly more often than adults. [citation needed]

Bipolar children are often both bullies, and the victims of bullies. They rarely see how their actions result in severe social problems at school, home, and elsewhere. These children are confusing for parents, teachers and other professionals, because bipolar disease is one that cycles. Bipolar children may have periods of sweetness, success, creativity, and other wonderful behaviors. Unfortunately, they may also show behaviors that are also extremely negative. This combination makes parenting, teaching, and counseling these children challenging. [citation needed]

Family and friends of the parents of bipolar children rarely understand how difficult things can get when the child is having severe symptoms. This may lead to strained relations with the friends and families of the parents of the affected child.

Fortunately, research and resources for bipolar children have been rising increasing steadily since the year 2000. As of 2005, the level of research has increased at a faster rate, though the results are still sketchy at best. [citation needed]

While finding professionals to help with bipolar children is difficult in a metropolitan area, it can be impossible in areas with smaller populations. Parents with bipolar children need to do as much research as possible in order that they are able to better understand the changes that the child is going through and be informed of the most current information.