In bipolar disorder, periods of intense elation and excitation (mania) alternate with periods of depression and despair. Mood may be normal in between these periods.
Children may rapidly go from being excited, happy, and active to being depressed, withdrawn, and sluggish or full of rage and violent.
Doctors base the diagnosis on symptoms and results of psychiatric tests.
The diagnosis of bipolar disorder in young children is very controversial.
Treatment may include mood-stabilizing medications to treat mania, antidepressants to treat depression, and psychotherapy.
Children normally have fairly rapid mood swings, going from happy and active to glum and withdrawn. These swings rarely indicate a mental health disorder. Bipolar disorder is far more severe than these normal mood changes, and the moods last much longer, often for weeks or months.
Bipolar disorder is rare in children. In the past, bipolar disorder was often diagnosed when young children (aged 4 to 11 years) became intensely irritable many times a day. Such children are now thought to have a disruptive mood dysregulation disorder instead.
Bipolar disorder typically begins during mid-adolescence or early adulthood. Bipolar disorder in adolescents is similar to bipolar disorder in adults.
The cause is unknown, but a tendency to develop bipolar disorder can be inherited. Chemical and anatomic abnormalities in the brain may be involved. In children with the disorder, stress may trigger an episode. Also, certain other disorders, such as overactive thyroid gland or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), can cause some similar symptoms or worsen the condition. Certain medications (for example, , amphetamines, phencyclidines, and certain antidepressants) and toxins in the environment (such as lead) can cause similar symptoms or worsen the condition.
Research also indicates that there is an increased risk of developing certain psychotic disorders (namely, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia) among adolescents who use cannabis products. This increased risk is not explained by genetic factors. There is concern that the recent legalization of marijuana may give adolescents (and their parents) a false sense of security about using this drug.
Symptoms
In many children, the first symptom of bipolar disorder is one or more episodes of depression.
The main symptoms are episodes of feeling elation and excitement of varying degrees (intense [mania] and less intense [hypomania]) that alternate with episodes of depression, which may occur more often. Children may go through intense changes in mood.
During a manic episode, sleep is disturbed, and children may become aggressive. They may have a very positive mood or be very irritable. They may talk rapidly. Their thoughts may race. They may have grandiose thoughts. For example, children may feel they have some great talent or have made an important discovery. Their judgment may be impaired, and adolescents may behave irresponsibly—for example, by becoming sexually promiscuous or driving recklessly. Younger children may have dramatic moods, but these moods often last only a few moments. School performance often deteriorates.
During an episode of depression, children with bipolar disorder, like those with depression alone, feel excessively sad and lose interest in their usual activities. They may think and move slowly and sleep more than usual. Feelings of hopelessness and guilt may overwhelm them.
Children with bipolar disorder appear normal between episodes, in contrast to children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, who are in a constant state of increased activity.
Symptoms often begin gradually. However, before the disorder develops, children typically have been very temperamental and difficult to manage.
Diagnosis
A visit with a doctor or behavioral health specialist
Sometimes questionnaires about symptoms
Tests to check for other causes of symptoms
Doctors base the diagnosis of bipolar disorder on a description of typical episodes by children and their parents. Doctors try to determine whether something, such as severe stress, triggered the episode.
Distinguishing bipolar disorder from other disorders is important. For example, both bipolar disorder (in a manic episode) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can cause children to be very active, but doctors can usually distinguish the disorders because most children with ADHD, unlike those with bipolar disorder, do not have intense mood changes.
Doctors determine whether children are taking any drugs that could contribute to the symptoms. Doctors may also check for signs of other disorders that may contribute to or cause the symptoms. For example, they may do blood tests to check for an overactive thyroid gland.
Treatment
Second-generation antipsychotics
Mood-stabilizing medications
Sometimes antidepressants
Psychotherapy
In bipolar disorder, episodes of mania and agitation are treated with second-generation antipsychotics and mood-stabilizing medications.
Episodes of depression are treated with
Second-generation antipsychotics plus selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors [SSRIs]
Antidepressants
Individual and family psychotherapy helps children and their families cope with the consequences of the disorder. Psychotherapy can help adolescents, who are prone to not follow their drug regimen, continue to follow it. If adolescents have mild to moderate symptoms and follow their drug regimen, they usually do well.
Did You Know...
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Prognosis
For adolescents with bipolar disorder, the prognosis worsens with each recurrence, so complete, thorough treatment is very important. Factors that increase the risk of recurrence include early age of onset, severity of symptoms, family history of bipolar disorder, and lack of treatment or failure to adhere to treatment.
