What are the symptoms of bipolar disorder in children?

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.

Based on DSM but...: Keep in mind that mood swings are much more rapid- the younger the child e.g. Multiple mood swings per day, barely provoked e.g just hearing the word "no" Distractability Irritability Grandiosity Flight of ideas Activities that are goal directed Recklessness Decreased need for sleep Hypersexuality Excessive frequent mood swings and tantrums/rages Parent feels like they are walking on eggshell

Controvery: this is a controversial topic. at present time there is not a separate set of criteria for children. thus, as it currently stands the diagnostic criteria is the same for adults and children. some retrospective studies suggest that children often present with severe irritability. the natural course of the disease is such that most people don't meet criteria until adulthood.