How to Treat Pediatric Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar Disorder, also referred to as Manic Depression, is a condition that is manifest with extreme changes in mood, behavior, energy, and thinking. Until recent years, diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder was rarely made during childhood due, in part, to the mistaken notion that Bipolar could not appear until late adolescence or adulthood. Doctors now diagnose and treat Pediatric Bipolar Disorder in young children. There are some indications that it can be recognized in infancy. It is theorized that many children currently diagnosed with ADHD and Conduct Disorders are misdiagnosed and actually suffer from Pediatric Bipolar Disorder or have co-occurring Bipolar.
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Things You'll Need
- Education
- Child Psychiatrist with Experience with Bipolar
- Notebook or Journal
- Support Group
Instructions
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Watch for symptoms of Bipolar Disorder. In young children these symptoms may present differently than in adults. While a diagnosis in adults requires marked periods of both mania and depression, children often have rapidly cycling mood shifts that cause a state of irritability with few periods of wellness. In 70% of children with this disorder have mood and energy shifts that occur several times a day. Signs of Bipolar Disorder may emerge in infancy, namely, difficulty sleeping or settling down at night, extreme clinginess, and out of control temper tantrums that are disproportionate to the event or extend for long periods of time. This should not be confused with typical short lived temper tantrums that are common in young children.
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Take notes and keep a journal of your child's behavior. This should include risk taking behaviors, general mood, any suicidal thoughts or references made by the child, and sleeping patterns. Be sure to take note of any unusual events or comments made by the child. These notes will help your doctor in making, or ruling out, a diagnosis of Pediatric Bipolar Disorder.
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Locate a board certified child psychiatrist to evaluate your child. If possible, look for one with specific experience in dealing with Bipolar Disorders in children. Although it may be difficult to find, the right doctor will improve your child's chances of being treated appropriately. Those who work strictly with adults may overlook symptoms or signs that a child psychiatrist will recognize. Never leave the diagnosis in the hands of a general pediatrician. Most Pediatricians simply do not have the training to deal with complex psychological disorders.
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Insist on a treatment plan that includes medication, education, counseling and behavior monitoring. Working with a professional to set up such a plan can produce marked results and a decrease in symptoms for your child.
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Learn all you can about the disorder and treatment options. If you do not understand something or have questions, ask your doctor.
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Join a support group for parents of children with Bipolar Disorder. It is important that you learn to control the stress you experience. In order to help your child, you will need to maintain a healthy lifestyle, which includes stress reduction.
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