Bipolar disorder is being diagnosed in children as young as six years old in recent years. Many doctors think this is a good assessment of many children while others think the diagnosis is overdone. While it may be only an intellectual controversy to some, others who know a child who may have bipolar disorder will not be amused. It is important to take into account all the facets of the disorder.



It is a tricky diagnosis at best. Bipolar disorder in children often appears similar to ADHD, or as simply rambunctious childhood behavior. Young children may cycle fast, meaning that they go from a depressed state to a manic state and back, etc. very quickly, often within weeks or even days.

Suicide attempts can very often happen on the spur of the moment, with little or no warning. This is different than in most adults where the depression is often long-lasting and suicide attempts may be well thought-out. For this reason it is very important that children with the disorder be treated successfully.

Bipolar disorder in children often presents in manic behaviour. In younger children this is often likely to come with hallucinations, both auditory and visual. It could seem that these would be difficult to distinguish from a healthy imagination. Sometimes, in fact, it is. Many times, though, the visions and voices are more disturbing and threatening than a healthy child would imagine.

Teens with bipolar disorder are similar in their symptoms to adults. A major complicating factor with teens is the use of drugs and / or alcohol. As with adults, this practice of trying to use street drugs and alcohol to control mood swings, is called self-medicating. It is a dangerous business andcan often mask the symptoms of the disorder. Bipolar disorder in children should always be considered where drugs are being used by them, if only to rule it out.

Bipolar disorder in children who are older, such as teenagers etc, is still different from the adult disorder in that the person with the disorder is still a minor. This leads to situations where the older child has an adversarial relationship with authorities and is therefore harder to convince that treatment is a good thing.

There are some ways to cut down on the confusion. Speaking with the child's teachers gives a good opinion of how the child is doing day-to-day. Also, this shows how the child fares in a different setting from the home environment. Bipolar disorder in children, if it is masquerading as some other form of disorder or behavior, is more likely to be found out if more people are alert to its symptoms.

Getting a second opinion is also very important, since so many doctors disagree on bipolar disorder in children. Once the second opinion is obtained, the family can make an informed decision as to what the problem is and how to proceed. Doctors may not all agree on bipolar disorder in children, but a second opinion should help to clarify the situation. The parent or guardian can listen carefully and determine if the doctor's explanation sounds accurate. Then, ultimately, it is the parents' job to make the call. Misdiagnosis and incorrect treatment would be unthinkable, but if bipolar disorder in children is the correct diagnosis, it is surely better to accept it.