Bipolar disorder is a common mental illness that affects the brain functioning of children. As the name indicates, this disorder involves two terms, bi means two, and the polar indicates the two poles of depression and mania that it possesses.
Affected individuals experience unexpected mood alterations and reduced energy levels. In addition, they are unable to pay attention to their important life details due to their distorted thought patterns. This also affects their behavior and they face various complications in different phases of life.
This disorder is also named manic depression as it comprises two different phases of mood and behavior. The occurrence of bipolar disorder is not limited to any gender, age, or any other socio-economic factor. Any individual can suffer from bipolar disorder. However, children are more susceptible to bipolar disorder. In addition, a large number of individuals get diagnosed with bipolar disorder in adulthood stages although major onset is linked with early childhood bipolar disorder stages.
Affected children experience sudden and undesired mood changes that make it difficult for them to handle different life situations. So whenever you find that your child is exhibiting any kind of dramatic change in mood and behavior then there is a greater probability that he or she is suffering from bipolar disorder. However, each dramatic change does not indicate the presence of bipolar disorder as your child may be suffering from any other mental illness. But whatever your child is suffering, you can take the ideal professional mental health assistance to treat bipolar disorder in children and make them happy.
What is the incidence of bipolar disorder in children?
Different recent studies have reported the different prevalence of bipolar disorder in children. However, most of the researchers have reported that approximately more than 3% of children and teenagers get diagnosed with bipolar disorder as compared to adults.
Moreover, among the two major types of bipolar disorder, 0.5% of children mostly suffer from bipolar disorder type I.
During the depressive episode of bipolar disorder, your child may exhibit the following symptoms:
- Irritable behavior
- Anger outbursts
- Lack of focus and concentration
- Trouble in sleeping
- Reduced interest in life activities
- Sense of hopelessness
- Most often intrusive thoughts
- Persistent sadness
- Crying without any apparent reason
- Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
- Self-harming thoughts
- Unexpected complaints of headaches or body aches
- Excessive eating
Due to the onset of manic episodes in bipolar disorder, the following symptoms are more common:
- Extreme sense of happiness
- Silly behavior
- Impatient behavior
- Talkative behavior
- High energy levels
- Excessive interest in social activities
- Major interest in risky activities
- Distractibility
- Reduced need for sleep
- Hurry in making decisions
What is the best way to evaluate the bipolar disorder in children?
To prevent future risk, the early detection and intervention of bipolar in children is extremely significant. As a parent, you need to focus on your child’s mental health, and whenever you suspect that your child is suffering from bipolar disorder then by considering these things you can self-evaluate the bipolar disorder in children.
- Is your child experiencing the intensity of emotions than in normal situations?
- Are your child’s mood swings affecting their performance at school?
- Is your child prefer to stay alone instead of engaging in any social activity?
- Does your child get annoyed easily when meeting new people?
Whenever you find any of these bipolar symptoms in children, immediately reach out for professional help and treat bipolar disorder in children.
There is no specific physical test to diagnose bipolar disorder. Only mental health professionals can better diagnose bipolar disorder in children. In addition, they can only diagnose when your child is having a manic episode. The better evaluation of bipolar disorder occurs during the mania as compared to the depressive episode of bipolar disorder. If your child is undergoing the depressive phase of bipolar disorder then mental health can be diagnosed as depression as compared to actual mental illness that is bipolar disorder.
What are the types of bipolar disorder in children?
The following are the most common types of bipolar disorder which affect children, adolescents as well as adults.
Bipolar disorder I:
This type of bipolar disorder involves manic episodes and the symptoms usually last longer. Most individuals encounter major depressive disorder that can persist for two, or three weeks or more.
Bipolar disorder II:
Individuals with bipolar disorder II experience both manic and depressive episodes of bipolar disorder, However, the intensity varies as compared to the bipolar disorder type I. Due to the presence of less severe symptoms of manic episodes, this type is also known as the hypomanic. As the manic episode ends, the affected individual experiences a major depressive disorder that typically lasts longer and also exhibits more severity.
Cyclothymia:
This type involves the combined symptoms of both depressive and hypomanic episodes. Moreover, the duration of these episodes is also greater as compared to other types. In children, the episodes can persist for 1 year, and approximately 2 years in adults.
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What are the risk factors of bipolar disorder in children?
There is not a single risk factor that can cause the onset of bipolar disorder symptoms in children. Different researchers have reported that numerous factors are responsible for the developement of bipolar disorder in children. Some common risk factors for bipolar disorder are as follows:
Genetics
Genes are the main units of inheritance and are transferred in generations. Genes responsible for the onset of bipolar disorder in children also transfer from parent to child and this is why bipolar disorder is also known as a genetic disease as it tends to run in families. A child having a bipolar disorder parent is more likely to suffer from bipolar disorder as compared to a normal child.
Brain structure
A person suffering from bipolar disorder exhibits various abnormalities in the brain as compared to normal individuals. Due to the onset of bipolar disorder symptoms, signals are sent to the brain which in turn disturbs the level of neurotransmitters in the brain.
Environmental factors
Different environmental factors are also responsible for the development of bipolar disorder in children.
Stress is considered the major trigger of anxiety, depression as well as other common mental issues including bipolar disorder. The major depressive episode gets activated after a person encounters any external stress factor such as personal and professional loss.
Drug or any substance abuse
The misuse of medications or alcohol can lead to bipolar disorder. If you are not taking the appropriate dosage of medication or stop taking it before the complete recovery, then it can cause the onset of depression as well as bipolar disorder.
Moreover, excessive alcohol consumption can also cause the development of manic, hypomanic as well as depressive episodes.
Is bipolar disorder identical in both children and adults?
Bipolar disorder can affect children, adolescents as well as adults. Although major symptoms are the same in both children and adults, there are some differences between them. In adults, the two different phases of bipolar disorder, depression and mania are separated and occur at different times. However, in children, the cycling of mood swings is more rapid and evident as compared to adolescents and adults. Moreover, different studies have also reported the mix between these two episodes of bipolar disorder.
Similarly, different studies have also reported the fact the symptoms also change in children during their developmental stages. However, this situation is not similar for each child as some children undergo variations of mood and behavior while some do not exhibit any change.
Most of the symptoms of bipolar disorder in children get misdiagnosed as the symptoms of other mental issues. There is a major similarity of bipolar disorder symptoms with the symptoms of anxiety, depression as well as ADHD.
Bipolar disorder and ADHD
There is a strong resemblance between the symptoms of ADHD and bipolar disorder in children. Therefore, most of the children suffering from bipolar disorder are misdiagnosed as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Various studies have also reported the fact that approximately 4.4% of children will suffer from bipolar disorder in their lives.
In various cases, both bipolar disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder occur at the same time. Hyperactivity and impulsivity are the major symptoms of ADHD and they mostly overlap with the symptoms of bipolar disorder in children. Likewise, some other symptoms are identical to bipolar disorder symptoms such as emotional intensity, and distracted behavior.
Other than similarities, there are also some major differences between ADHD and bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder comprises two different episodes of mania and depression which are short-lived and overlap each other. However, the duration of ADHD symptoms is greater as compared to the bipolar disorder symptoms.
Another main difference is that the intensity of bipolar disorder symptoms increases with age if left untreated. Furthermore, if any child is suffering from bipolar disorder and ADHD at the same time then it elevates the risk rate and they experience more severe mental conditions as compared to these individuals who are just suffering from bipolar disorder.
Therefore if a child is suffering from ADHD then most people consider this mental illness as bipolar disorder. However, the reality is different as both mental illnesses are different.
How bipolar disorder in children be treated?
Fortunately, bipolar disorder is treatable. But the identification at an early stage helps in effective recovery from the symptoms of bipolar disorder and your child can live a prosperous life by getting the absolute mental potential. As a parent, your main responsibility is to always have a look at your child’s mental health and behavior. Whenever you find an unusual change, you should prepare your mind to treat their mental health. Moreover, teachers should also give priority to the mental state of the child. If the children are not paying proper attention in the classroom then they should deal with them with love and care and also inform the parents about their mental state.
Furthermore, a comprehensive treatment plan is always required to treat and overcome bipolar disorder in children. The following treatment options are employed by experts to assist individuals in getting rid of the symptoms of bipolar disorder in children.
Psychiatric medications
Mental health professionals usually recommend the following medications to treat bipolar disorder in children, teenagers as well as adults.
Mood stabilizers
Mood stabilizers are specialized medications that are used to regulate mood swings and stop the initiation of manic and depressive episodes. Some common mood stabilizers include:
- Equetro
- Lithonate
- Tegretol
- Lamictal
Experts first perform an in-depth evaluation to completely determine the symptoms and their intensity. Then based on the results of the evaluation, they recommend the medication to treat bipolar disorder in children. Most of the children are also suffered from ADHD at the same time. If their ADHD gets diagnosed then experts also recommend the medications to treat the ADHD. However, they make recommendations after complete analysis as sometimes ADHD symptoms can cause certain side effects.
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Cognitive behavioral therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a common type of talk therapy that is employed by mental health experts to treat bipolar disorder in children. With the help of this therapy individuals suffering from bipolar disorder directly interact with professional mental health experts and get the best treatment plan for bipolar disorder. Experts ask different questions from affected children and determine their physiological functioning, Then they guide their parents or caregivers on how they can help their child overcome bipolar disorder and live with mental stability.
Interpersonal therapy
This therapy is significant in treating interpersonal conflicts among individuals grappling with bipolar disorder. As individuals suffering from bipolar disorder are unable to manage their mood this therapy can help them in better mood management. Individuals learn the specialized skills to manage their life routine and participate in each life activity with supreme mental potential and confidence.
How can you help your child suffering from bipolar disorder?
As a parent or caregiver, you should take the following essential steps if you want to make your child compatible and happy to enjoy success with mental health.
Encouraging behavior:
All the children have innocent hearts and they always want to speak their heart. Most of the children facing mental health issues don’t share their inner feelings and thoughts with anyone due to embarrassment or fear of confidence. If your child is one of them then you need to show your encouraging behavior towards him. Be a good listener for your child. At the end of the day, make a habit of listening to your child and give your child the confidence to share all thoughts. In this way, your child will realize that his feelings and thoughts matter. Moreover, during discussion your child will also learn different productive strategies to make their mind active and healthy and ultimately they also acquire multiple skills to effectively participate in each social activity.
Analyze their mood and behavior
Never ignore your child’s unusual mood and behavior. You should always be alert to all changes and then develop a strategy to cope with them. If you remain busy most of the time then make a schedule to talk with them and discuss all the things of the day. Also, communicate with your child’s teacher and ask them to keep an eye on your child to prevent any future mental health risks for your child.
Teaching stress management
Always teach your child different stress management as well as relieving techniques. You can teach them different strategies such as physical workouts, yoga, meditation as well as different mindfulness techniques to keep their brain calm and prevent all mental issues including bipolar disorder.
How Solid Foundation Psychiatry is assisting with bipolar disorder treatment?
Solid Foundation Psychiatry is an ideal and reliable mental health platform that offers the best treatment of bipolar disorder in children. We have a diverse team of professional mental health experts who always remain at the forefront to provide comprehensive treatment for all common mental health issues including anxiety, depression, ADHD, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, OCD, psychosis mood disorders, etc. However, if your child is suffering from bipolar disorder then no worries, our mental health experts are always ready to help you, your child, and your loved ones to get the best-tailored treatment for bipolar disorder and empower the mental wellness to enjoy life with peace of mind. Our experts are skilled in diagnosing bipolar disorder in children and then providing the best therapy to treat bipolar disorder in children. They utilize the evidence-based approach in formulating the therapeutic strategy so you get the desired results in the form of sound mental health. So what are you looking for? Prioritize your child’s mental health and get our mental health support to give them mental liberation so they thrive in each step of their life.
