Question 1

how can bipolar disorder be different in teens/children and adults?

Accepted Answer

Complicated answer: Most commonly, symptoms don't manifest until late teens or early twenties.  Children who are diagnosed as bipolar can be very energetic, have less need for sleep, temper tantrums and aggression are out of range for the precipitant.  They can also be grandiose and inappropriately sexual for their age.  Often the first episode in a child is depression.  Caution i f there is a family hx of bp.

Question 2

how is bipolar disorder different in teens and children compared to adults?

Accepted Answer

Good Question: The whole issue of bipolar disorder in children is controversial, mostly because what we call bipolar disorder in children tends to look different than with adults. Chidlren with bipolar disorder tend to be more irritable, and their moods tend to be more fluctuating or mixed. There are not usually the clear cycles of mania and depression that occur more with teens and adults.

Question 3

what are the symptoms of bipolar disorder in children?

Accepted Answer

Cycling etc: Irritability, rapid changes in mood, easy anger, meaness, destructibility, sleeplessness, infallibility (thinking one is always right, aggressiveness, hypersexulality, aggression toward animals, lying & deceitfulness.  See www.Bipolarchild.Com/resources/jbrf/. Dr papolos developed an effective questionnaire to screen for bipolar disorder. The diagnosis will be made by your doctor or psychiatrist.

Question 4

how do you explain your bipolar disorder to your children?

Accepted Answer

Warmly by age: Each child has a particular maturity. Address yourself using this as your guide. A younger child will understand ''medicine'', being ill . More mature child will appreciate more details such as ''mood'', ''feelings'', have a really good doctor, ''will be with me, us for a long time''. Do make sure you allow each to feel you are available for concerns & questions. And each is safe & loved.

Question 5

what are the usual symptoms of bipolar disorder in children?

Accepted Answer

BIPOLAR DISORDER: Manic depressive personality sometimes child is sad alternates with elation lasting for a few months.Stressful life events or other psychosocial  factors may precede  mood changes.

Question 6

will my children have bipolar disorder when they grow up if i did?

Accepted Answer

Not sure: If you have bipolar disorder your child's chance of having same goes up, but its not certain that he/she will. No psychiatric disorder has 100% hereditary transmission.

Question 7

is insecure attachments as a child associated with bipolar disorder as an adult?

Accepted Answer

No: There is no evidence that bipolar disorder comes from attachment difficulties. It is generally a genetic illness.

Question 8

i have bipolar disorder type 1. what are the chances of me passing it on to my children. my grandfther had bipolar type 1 aswell.

Accepted Answer

Available studies: Genetic transmission of bipolar disorder is not complete -- your children do not automatically develop the disease that you have.  Some studies have shown that with 1 bipolar parent, there is 15% risk in kids' developing the illness; with both parents, it goes up to 30%.  So there's a greater chance that your children won't be bipolar, than that they will.  Healthy lifestyle helps too.

Question 9

is it possible for children to have bipolar disorder?

Accepted Answer

Bipolar: Sure. A good evaluation by a child psychiatrist will confirm the diagnosis.

Question 10

what is the controversy over the increase in bipolar disorder diagnoses in children?

Accepted Answer

Chaos of Chaos: Children are developing in an environment that has an impact on their behavior.   Having a mental disorder means there is something wrong with the individual's development.  The controversy is that it is difficult to tell if a child's behavior is the result of bad biology or a chaotic environment that supports the behavior as adaptive. Brain development is altered by Meds, but not clear how long.

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Doctor answers about:

Bipolar disorder in adults in children

A member asked:

How can bipolar disorder be different in teens/children and adults?

A member asked:

How is bipolar disorder different in teens and children compared to adults?

A member asked:

What are the symptoms of bipolar disorder in children?

A member asked:

How do you explain your bipolar disorder to your children?

A member asked:

What are the usual symptoms of bipolar disorder in children?

A member asked:

Will my children have bipolar disorder when they grow up if i did?

A member asked:

Is insecure attachments as a child associated with bipolar disorder as an adult?

A member asked:

I have bipolar disorder type 1. what are the chances of me passing it on to my children. my grandfther had bipolar type 1 aswell.

A member asked:

Is it possible for children to have bipolar disorder?

A member asked:

What is the controversy over the increase in bipolar disorder diagnoses in children?

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