Bipolar Disorder In Children

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The Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Illness (DSM) classifies Bipolar Disorder as manic episodes preceded or followed by hypomania or major depressive disorder, with unusual shifts in one’s mood and level of energy and activity (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). These shifts are extreme and not like a child’s normal behavior, the moods also tends to last every day for a week. Bipolar Disorder in children is a controversial topic because some psychiatrist and psychologist believe it is being over diagnosed and clinicians are disregarding DSM criteria, or misdiagnosed and confused with ADHD, Conduct Disorder, and possibly Depression. Other individuals see the advantages of diagnosing and treating earlier because it leads to higher …show more content…
Both disorders can experience hyperactivity, impulsivity, decreased attention spans as well as being overly anxious and experiencing symptoms of anxiety and obsessive compulsive behaviors. In Luckenbaugh, Findling, Leverich, Pizzarello, and Post’s study (2009) they were able to study children with ADHD and Bipolar side by side to compare symptoms. Children diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder experience more night terrors, had increased frustration and a low tolerance for what frustrated them, and experienced bed wetting across a large age span. Symptoms such as decreased need for sleep and evaluated mood were typically the earliest symptoms of Bipolar Disorder in children. Whereas later occurring symptoms, occurring around ages six to twelve, such as reported more physical complaints, inappropriate sexual behavior, suicidal ideation, and increased sadness also help distinguish Bipolar Disorder from ADHD. Inappropriate sexual behavior/hypersexuality is a very important marker when distinguishing Bipolar Disorder because children with Bipolar Disorder experience hypersexuality 74% more than children with ADHD or other disorder (Oppositional Deficient Disorder, Conduct …show more content…
Louis, Boston, and Cincinnati. In 1994/1995 only 0.01% of individuals under the age of twenty were diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder (BD), where as in 2002/2003 0.44% of individuals under the age of twenty were diagnosed with BD. Bipolar was considered an extremely rare diagnosis for pre-pubescence children and even more uncommon for adolescence but Biederman, Wozniak, and others at Massachusetts General Hospital, and Geller Group of Washington University at Saint Louis, and Kowatch, Debello, and Keck of Cincinnati, Ohio have led the way for children and young adults with
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