Both children and
adolescents can develop bipolar disorder. It is more likely to affect the
children of parents who have the illness.
Unlike many adults with
bipolar disorder, whose episodes tend to be more clearly defined, children
and young adolescents with the illness often experience very fast mood
swings between depression and mania many times within a day. Children with
mania are more likely to be irritable and prone to destructive tantrums
than to be overly happy and elated. Mixed symptoms also are common in
youths with bipolar disorder. Older adolescents who develop the illness
may have more classic, adult-type episodes and symptoms.
Bipolar
disorder in children and adolescents can be hard to tell apart from other
problems that may occur in these age groups. For example, while
irritability and aggressiveness can indicate bipolar disorder, they also
can be symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, conduct
disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, or other types of mental
disorders more common among adults such as major depression or
schizophrenia. Drug abuse also may lead to such symptoms.
For any
illness, however, effective treatment depends on appropriate diagnosis.
Children or adolescents with emotional and behavioral symptoms should be
carefully evaluated by a mental health professional. Any child or
adolescent who has suicidal feelings, talks about suicide, or attempts
suicide should be taken seriously and should receive immediate help from a
mental health specialist.
Related
Topics:
What is Bipolar
Disorder?
Symptoms of Bipolar
Disorder
Causes of Bipolar
Disorder
Treatment of Bipolar
Disorder
Source: U.S. National Institute of Mental
Health |
