Bipolar Disorder in Children and Youth

Bipolar Disorder (also known as manic-depression) is a disorder of the brain marked by extreme changes in mood, energy, thinking, and behavior.  Symptoms may be present since infancy or early childhood, or may suddenly emerge in adolescence or adulthood.  Until recently, a diagnosis of the disorder was rarely made in childhood.  Doctors can now recognize and treat bipolar disorder in young children.

A child with Bipolar Disorder may be bossy, overbearing, extremely oppositional, and have difficulty making transitions.  His or her mood can veer from morbid and hopeless to silly, giddy, and goofy within very short periods of time.  Some children experience social phobia, while others are extremely charismatic and risk-taking.  Children with this disorder are often anxious and have very low frustration tolerance, creating signficant academic, social, and behavioral challenges for the student at school.

Early intervention and treatment offer the best chance for children with emerging Bipolar Disorder to achieve stability and grow up to enjoy their gifts and build upon their strengths. Early and proper treatment can minimize the adverse effects of the disorder on their lives.

Click here for Mental Health quick fact sheet on Bipolar Disorder in Children and Youth

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