What is childhood bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a persistent and difficult illness. When it occurs in childhood or adolescence it can completely disrupt the life of the family. Bipolar disorder that’s undiagnosed, misdiagnosed, or poorly treated is associated with: • increased rates of suicide attempts and completions • poorer academic performances • distressed relationships • increased rates of substance abuse • multiple hospitalizations In adults, bipolar disorder is marked by mood swings that go from depression to mania. Adult mania is characterized by euphoria, grandiosity, irritability, racing thoughts, and frenetic activity. The definition of mania is not so clear for bipolar disorder in childhood. Some experts say that being irritable, cranky, and negative may be the only signs of mania in children with bipolar disorder. And other experts argue that childhood bipolar disorder may not even be the same disease as adult bipolar disorder. What is clear, though, is that bipolar disorder is an increasingly commo
