Bipolar Disorder in Children

موضوع: Bipolar Disorder in Children السبت أبريل 18, 2009 11:05 pm

Many children, and especially adolescents, experience mood swings as a normal part of growing up, but when these feelings persist and interfere with a child’s ability to function in daily life, bipolar disorder could be the cause. Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depression, is a mood disorder marked by extreme changes in mood, energy levels and behavior.

Symptoms can begin in early childhood but usually emerge in adolescence or adulthood. Until recently, young people were rarely diagnosed with this disorder. Yet up to one-third of the 3.4 million children and teens with depression in the United States may actually be experiencing the early onset of bipolar disorder, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Doctors now recognize and treat the disorder in young people, but it is still an under-recognized illness.
Children with bipolar disorder usually alternate rapidly between extremely high moods (mania) and low moods (depression). These mood shifts can produce irritability with periods of wellness between episodes, or the young person may feel both extremes at the same time. Parents who have children with the disorder often describe them as unpredictable, alternating between aggressive or silly and withdrawn. Children with bipolar disorder are at a greater risk for anxiety disorders and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. These "co-occurring" disorders complicate diagnosis of bipolar disorder and contribute to the lack of recognition of the illness in children.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms?

Bipolar disorder begins with either manic or depressive symptoms. Not all children with bipolar disorder have all symptoms. Children with bipolar disorder are likely to have a family history of the illness. If a child you know is struggling with any combination of the symptoms listed below for more than two weeks, talk with a doctor or mental health professional.
Manic Symptoms

Severe changes in mood—from unusually happy or silly to irritable, angry or aggressive.
Unrealistic highs in self-esteem. May feel indestructible.
Great increase in energy level. Sleeps little without being tired.
Excessive involvement in multiple projects and activities. May move from one thing to the next and become easily distracted.
Increase in talking. Talks too much, too fast, changes topics too quickly, and cannot be interrupted. This may be accompanied by racing thoughts or feeling pressure to keep talking.
Risk-taking behavior such as abusing drugs and alcohol, attempting daredevil stunts, or being sexually active or having unprotected sex.

Depressive Symptoms

Frequent sadness or crying
Withdrawal from friends and activities
Decreased energy level, lack of enthusiasm or motivation
Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt
Extreme sensitivity to rejection or failure
Major changes in habits such as over-sleeping or over-eating
Frequent physical complaints such as headaches and stomachaches
Recurring thoughts of death, suicide, or self-destructive behavior

Many teens with bipolar disorder abuse alcohol and drugs as a way to escape, and should be evaluated for a mental health disorder. If an addiction develops, it is essential to treat both the mental health disorder and the substance abuse problem at the same time.

to know more clik here

http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/farcry/go/information/get-info/children-s-mental-health/bipolar-disorder-in-children

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