How to Help a Child With Bipolar Disorder

If your child has bipolar disorder, you've undoubtedly been aware that something was not right, whether or not that label was used. Maybe even as an infant, your child had difficulty calming down and sleeping, or had tantrums that continued even though you weren't giving in to them. Bipolar disorder is a very serious medical illness characterized by severe mood and energy shifts. The good news is that it is treatable. However, getting an accurate diagnosis can be difficult. If a diagnosis of bipolar disorder is made, your child will need a good treatment plan involving the whole family. Treatment will include medication, education, and psychotherapy. There is no cure, but appropriate treatment can yield a much better outcome. If you suspect your child may have bipolar disorder, here are some steps to get you started in helping him.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. The first thing to do if you suspect your child has bipolar disorder is to get some help. This is especially crucial if your child talks of suicide or has attempted it. It is best to have a child psychiatrist do an evaluation, but if this isn't possible, other specialists may be able to help. The Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation (see Resources)is a good resource for referrals. Your child's pediatrician may also be able to refer you to a good specialist.
2. Take detailed notes regarding your child's mood, behavior, eating and sleeping patterns, and anything else that concerns you (such as talk of death and dying). Bring this information to the doctor. If you don't have a specialist yet, showing this information to your pediatrician may help her make an appropriate referral.
3. If a diagnosis of bipolar disorder is made, the doctor will discuss treatment options including medication, education, and psychotherapy. As a parent, you should be actively participating in your child's treatment, which starts with learning as much as you can about the disorder.
4. Your child will need a good support system. This includes you and your family, your child's psychiatrist and therapist (who may or may not be the same person), and school personnel. Your child's teacher(s) will need to understand how the illness affects her and what types of classroom accommodations may be appropriate. Other school personnel you may want to involve include the school counselor, social worker, and/or psychologist, as well as administrators.
5. Talk to other parents of bipolar children. They can be a great source of support as well as information about treatments, school issues, and ways to help your child. Your child's psychiatrist or therapist can help with local resources. You can also find other parents online; the links provided here in the Resources section can help with that.
6. Monitor your child's symptoms closely. It will probably take a while to find the right combination of medications for your child and these will need to be adjusted as your child grows.
7. Learn about resources that the public schools can provide. As a student with a disability, your child has certain rights. She may need certain accommodations, such as starting school later than the other students, if her medication makes her sleepy in the morning. Such accommodations may be outlined in a 504 plan.
8. If your child's educational functioning is impacted to the extent that specially designed instruction (as opposed to just accommodations) are required, an Individual Education Plan (IEP) may be needed. If you or your child's teachers think this is the case for your child, a referral for a special education evaluation should be made. The school will do an evaluation which includes psycho-educational testing and information from you and your child's doctor. The evaluation results will be reviewed with you and if appropriate, an IEP will be written. The IEP will outline appropriate special education services and accommodations for your child.

Tips & Warnings

• Bipolar disorder tends to look different in children than in adults. Children often present with moods that have elements of mania (an elevated, expansive, or irritable mood) and depression at the same time.
• Symptoms of this disorder may occur at any time. It might start in infancy, but symptoms may not appear until later in childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood.
• Initiating a 504 plan or IEP at school will involve some team meetings with school personnel. Remember that you are an important member of the team in developing a 504 plan or IEP. Your input is important and should be taken seriously by the school staff.
• Getting a correct diagnosis can be very challenging. One reason is because the disorder may look different in children than in adults. Another reason is that many children may have symptoms of more than one disorder, such as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Conduct Disorder, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.