Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder characteristic of persistent, overwhelming and uncontrollable changes in:nn• Moodsn• Activitiesn• Thoughts n• And behaviorsnnIf there is a family history of
bipolar disorder or depression, a child has a much greater chance of having it. Parents cannot choose whether or not their children will have
bipolar disorder. The disorder is often difficult to recognize and diagnose in children. Left untreated,
bipolar disorder, puts a child at risk for:nn• School failuren• Drug abusen• And suicidennIt is of most importance to seek the advice of a qualified professional when trying to find out if your child has
bipolar disorder. The symptoms of
bipolar disorder can be mistaken for other medical/mental health conditions. Children with this disorder can also have other mental health needs at the same time. Other disorders include but are not limited to:nn• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disordern• Conduct disordern• Oppositional defiant disordern• Anxiety disordersn• Autistic spectrum disordersn• Drug abusen nAn appropriate diagnosis is crucial for a child who needs help. Sometimes misperceptions and misunderstandings lead to delayed diagnoses, misdiagnoses or no diagnosis. This can be due to a family’s culture and language in how causes and symptoms are perceived and then described to a mental health care provider.nnIf symptoms are properly communicated to the appropriate medical professionals and a
bipolar disorder is diagnosed, treatment can begin to help children and adolescents with
bipolar disorder live productive and fulfilling lives. Time is precious and time lost to any human being can never be regained.nnWith many health problems different people experience the same symptoms. This is not the case with
bipolar disorder in children. They experience symptoms differently. For example:nn• Children with the illness experience mood swings that alternate or cycle, between periods of highs and lows called mania and depression with varying moods in between much more rapidly than adults.n• Mood swings in children sometimes occur many times within a daynnIn addition, mental health experts differ in their interpretation of what symptoms children experience. Review the following commonly reported signs of
bipolar disorder in children:nn• Excessive elevated moods alternating with periods of depressed or irritable moodsn• Periods of high, goal-directed activity, and/or physical agitationn• Racing thoughts and speaking very fastn• Unusual/erratic sleep patterns and/or a decreased need for sleepn• Difficulty settling as babiesn• Severe temper tantrums, sometimes called “rages.”n• Excessive involvement in pleasurable activities, daredevil behavior and/or grandiose, “super-confident” thinking and behaviorsn• Impulsivity and/or distractibilityn• Inappropriate sexual activity, even at very young agesn• Hallucinations and/or delusionsn• Suicidal thoughts and/or talks of killing self, andn• Inflexible, oppositional/defiant, and extremely irritable behaviornnIf a qualified mental health provider diagnoses your child with
bipolar disorder, the provider may suggest several different treatment options including strategies for:nn• Managing behaviorsn• Medicationsn• And/or talk therapynnIf a “system of care” is available, your child’s mental health care provider may suggest enrolling.nnSystem of care usually consists of:nn• Community-based human services specialists and supportsnThe community-based services and supports are organized to meet the challenges of children and youth with serious mental health needs. A system of care can help by:n• Tailoring services to the unique needs of your child and familyn• Making services and supports available in your language and connecting you with professionals who respect your values and beliefsn• Encouraging you and your child to play as much of a role in the design of a treatment plan as you want; andn• Providing services from within your community, whenever possiblennTo find a system of care community for a child with
bipolar disorder in your area:nn• Visit the Mental Health SAMHSA government web site and click on “Child, Adolescent & Family” and then “Systems of Care”n• Contact the National Mental Health Information center by calling toll-free 1-800-789-2647nnAccording to national data collected for more than a decade, families in systems of care say these systems do work. The data from systems of care related to children and youth with
bipolar disorder reveal the following:nn• Children and youth demonstrate improvement in emotional and behavioral functioningn• Caregivers report that children and youth have a reduction in conflicts with others in the familyn• Caregivers experience an increased ability to do their jobsn• Caregivers report fewer missed days and a reduction in tardiness from workn• Children and youth with
bipolar disorder improve in school-related tasks, such as paying attention in class, taking notes, and completing assignments on timen• Children and youth with
bipolar disorder have fewer contacts with the juvenile justice system after enrolling in a system of carenSystems of care may be different for each community; however, they all share three core values which are:n• Systems of care are family-driven and youth-guidedn• Systems of care are culturally and linguistically competentn• Systems of care are community-basednnThese three values play an important role in ensuring that services and supports are effective and responsive to the needs of each child, youth, and family.nnHuman services specialists and other professional health care workers will:nn• Help you learn more about
bipolar disorder in childrenn• Help you locate services and supports tailored to your child’s needs that include:nn1. Counselingn2. Health caren3. Specialized schoolingn4. After-school programsn5. Transportationn6. And child caren7. Helping you become an effective advocate for your child’s needsn8. Will work as a partnership with you and your child, inviting your continual inputn9. Will help you learn how to educate others about
bipolar illness in childrennnUsual steps of enrolling in a system of care include:nn1. Diagnosis and Referraln2. Assessment and Intaken3. Care Planning and Partnership BuildingnnSource: SAMHSA’s National Mental Health Information CenternnnnThis article is FREE to publish with the resource box. nn