Bipolar disorder in children: Is it possible?

Is bipolar disorder in children possible? Most of what I've read says bipolar disorder develops in adults.

- Bob / Pennsylvania

Answer

Although most research on bipolar disorder has focused on adults, historical data suggest that the overall prevalence of bipolar disorder in children is about 1 percent of the population — a rate similar to that of bipolar disorder in adults. The risk of bipolar disorder is higher for children who have a family history of the condition.

Bipolar disorder causes severe mood swings, from mania to depression. For children, these mood swings may happen many times a day — causing severe difficulties in daily functioning at home, at school and with peers. Destructive outbursts, school absences, and changes in school performance and relationships with peers are common.

During a manic episode, a child who has bipolar disorder may:

• Believe that he or she has special abilities or talents
• Become agitated
• Have a severely negative, petulant mood
• Be unusually happy or silly
• Have trouble concentrating, quickly bouncing from one activity to the next
• Have less need for sleep than usual
• Engage in impulsive or risky behavior, such as substance abuse

During a depressive episode, a child who has bipolar disorder may:

• Appear sad or depressed
• Complain of headaches or other physical ailments
• Lose interest in favorite activities

Diagnosing bipolar disorder in children can be challenging. Some symptoms of bipolar disorder may initially be mistaken as normal mood swings or other mental health conditions, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or conduct disorder. If you suspect that your child may have bipolar disorder, consult a mental health professional who specializes in child psychiatry. Early intervention can help prevent serious consequences and improve the lifelong course of bipolar disorder.