About Bipolar Disorder in Children - Severe and Long Term or Mild and Infrequent
When it comes to bipolar disorder in children as well as in adults this is a disorder that can either be fairly mild with only infrequent episodes or it can be much more severe and more long lasting. It is also known as manic depression and those who suffer with Bipolar disorder tend to experience the associated symptoms in a number of different ways. Most people with Bipolar Disorder tend to experience around eight to ten manic or depressive episodes in the course of their lives. On the other hand there are those that might experience even fewer episodes or indeed more episodes.
According to the latest medical evidence that we have it would appear that children and adults with Bipolar Disorder actually have a higher death rate than those who do not have the disorder. This higher death rate is usually from heart problems and suicide. However it is important to note that bipolar disorder in children is treatable and when treatment is provided the child can go on to live a normal, healthy, and productive life.
Parents with a child diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder will need to be able to determine the cycles that the disorder follows. Usually there are the depressive phases and these phases tend to be more frequent than the manic ones. These depressive and manic phases are not really predictable and they are seldom if ever regular. A number of people who suffer with Bipolar Disorder actually experience a mixture of mania and depression that can last for as long as a week at a time.
Some people with Bipolar Disorder might experience what is known among the experts as Rapid Cycling. This means that they experience an alternating between the manic and depressive episodes as many as four times in a year although it can even be in daily cycles in really severe cases. This is a very difficult type of Bipolar Disorder to treat because the drugs used in the treatment of the disorder, most notably antidepressants, can actually cause a switch to mania and thus result in a cyclical pattern.
As far as the disorder in children is concerned it would appear that the symptoms that the bipolar child experiences differs somewhat from those that an adult tends to experience. Usually adults experience distinct and ongoing periods of mania and depression. Children with Bipolar Disorder on the other hand tend to fluctuate as far as their moods and behaviors are concerned. In the bipolar child mania is usually characterized by irritability and belligerence while adults tend to feel more euphoric feelings. Children with the disorder also tend to experience more angry and restless behavior; they might have more mood swings and behavioral issues which would also include anxiety, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and substance abuse issues. It has yet to be ascertained how often childhood bipolar disorder might persist into adulthood nor whether treating it in the child will alleviate it in the later life of the sufferer.
When it comes to treating bipolar disorder in children it is unfortunate that those in the medical profession are still unsure of what the best treatment is. The drugs that are routinely prescribed carry alarming side-effects and these can be far more severe in children. Before a parent agrees to let their child be placed on a medication for the treatment of the disorder they really need to weigh the potential risks and benefits.
Lithium was for the longest time the only FDA approved medication for treating bipolar disorder in children older than twelve in the country. Risperdal was approved in 2007 for children between the ages of ten and seventeen. Sometimes only one drug is not effective in which case a combination of medications might be suggested. Side-effects of Lithium and other drugs used in the treatment of this disorder can include:
1. Impaired thinking
2. Skin problems
3. Urinary problems
4. Weight issues
5. Menstrual irregularities
6. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
7. Depression
8. Mood Swings
9. Nausea
10. Dry mouth
11. Dizziness
12. Jitteriness
13. Rashes
According to the latest medical evidence that we have it would appear that children and adults with Bipolar Disorder actually have a higher death rate than those who do not have the disorder. This higher death rate is usually from heart problems and suicide. However it is important to note that bipolar disorder in children is treatable and when treatment is provided the child can go on to live a normal, healthy, and productive life.
Parents with a child diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder will need to be able to determine the cycles that the disorder follows. Usually there are the depressive phases and these phases tend to be more frequent than the manic ones. These depressive and manic phases are not really predictable and they are seldom if ever regular. A number of people who suffer with Bipolar Disorder actually experience a mixture of mania and depression that can last for as long as a week at a time.
Some people with Bipolar Disorder might experience what is known among the experts as Rapid Cycling. This means that they experience an alternating between the manic and depressive episodes as many as four times in a year although it can even be in daily cycles in really severe cases. This is a very difficult type of Bipolar Disorder to treat because the drugs used in the treatment of the disorder, most notably antidepressants, can actually cause a switch to mania and thus result in a cyclical pattern.
As far as the disorder in children is concerned it would appear that the symptoms that the bipolar child experiences differs somewhat from those that an adult tends to experience. Usually adults experience distinct and ongoing periods of mania and depression. Children with Bipolar Disorder on the other hand tend to fluctuate as far as their moods and behaviors are concerned. In the bipolar child mania is usually characterized by irritability and belligerence while adults tend to feel more euphoric feelings. Children with the disorder also tend to experience more angry and restless behavior; they might have more mood swings and behavioral issues which would also include anxiety, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and substance abuse issues. It has yet to be ascertained how often childhood bipolar disorder might persist into adulthood nor whether treating it in the child will alleviate it in the later life of the sufferer.
When it comes to treating bipolar disorder in children it is unfortunate that those in the medical profession are still unsure of what the best treatment is. The drugs that are routinely prescribed carry alarming side-effects and these can be far more severe in children. Before a parent agrees to let their child be placed on a medication for the treatment of the disorder they really need to weigh the potential risks and benefits.
Lithium was for the longest time the only FDA approved medication for treating bipolar disorder in children older than twelve in the country. Risperdal was approved in 2007 for children between the ages of ten and seventeen. Sometimes only one drug is not effective in which case a combination of medications might be suggested. Side-effects of Lithium and other drugs used in the treatment of this disorder can include:
1. Impaired thinking
2. Skin problems
3. Urinary problems
4. Weight issues
5. Menstrual irregularities
6. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
7. Depression
8. Mood Swings
9. Nausea
10. Dry mouth
11. Dizziness
12. Jitteriness
13. Rashes
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