Bipolar disorder in children
Many children and especially adolescents experience mood swings as a normal part of growing up, but when these feelings persist and begin to interfere with a child's ability to function in daily life, bipolar disorder (sometimes called manic depression) could be the cause. Bipolar disorder is a type of mood disorder marked by extreme changes in mood, energy levels and behaviour.
Symptoms of bipolar disorder
Symptoms can begin in early childhood but more typically emerge in adolescence or adulthood.
Children with bipolar disorder usually alternate between extremely high moods (mania) and low moods (depression). These rapid mood shifts can produce irritability with periods of wellness between episodes or the young person may feel both extremes at the same time.
However, the symptoms of bipolar in children differ slightly. When manic, children and adolescents, in contrast to adults, are more likely to be irritable and prone to destructive outbursts than to be elated or euphoric. When depressed, there may be many physical complaints such as headaches, stomach aches or tiredness, frequent absences from school, poor performance in school, talk of or efforts to run away from home, irritability, complaining, unexplained crying, social isolation, poor communication and extreme sensitivity to rejection & failure
For more general information about this condition, see our Bipolar disorder (manic depression) factsheet (593 kb) ![[pdf]](http://www.rethink.org/display_images/document_icons/pdf.gif){kind=icon}
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When manic, children and adolescents, in contrast to adults, are more likely to be irritable and prone to destructive outbursts than to be elated or euphoric.
Treatment of bipolar disorder in children
The treatment of children with bipolar is based mainly on experience with adults which involves mood stabilisers, but at a lower dose. In addition to medication, a good treatment plan should include close monitoring of symptoms, education about the illness, counselling or psychotherapy for the individual and family, stress reduction, good nutrition, regular sleep and exercise, and participation in a network of support. For more information on how to access treatment for a child please see our factsheet Childhood mental illness (663 kb)
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