| Bipolar disorder, or manic depression, has in past years | | | | disorder, the mood swings and symptoms are so |
| only been found in adults, while children with similar | | | | severe that the child is not able to control their actions |
| symptoms have been mistakenly diagnosed as have | | | | or emotional reactions to stimuli and situations. |
| attention deficit disorder (ADD), or attention deficit | | | | Cognitive behavioral therapy is a fairly new method of |
| hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, in recent | | | | therapy for bipolar patients in which the patient learns |
| years, psychiatrists and pediatricians have found that | | | | to recognize symptoms of their illness, triggers for |
| bipolar disorder definitely rears its ugly head in | | | | mood swings and inappropriate behavior, and |
| childhood as often as it does in adolescent or adult | | | | alternatives to inappropriate behavior. Cognitive |
| years. | | | | behavioral therapy also allows the patient to discover |
| Diagnosis of bipolar in childhood increases the chances | | | | what he or she can do to avoid manic or depressive |
| for bipolar patients to have successful treatment and | | | | episodes, and how to manage the episodes more |
| ordinary, uninhibited lives as adults. However, treatment | | | | effectively. In adults, this treatment option is very viable, |
| options of bipolar in childhood is a controversial subject. | | | | and works well both in conjunction with and without |
| Many doctors wish to medicate first, and regulate with | | | | medication treatment. |
| therapy in addition to medications. However, many | | | | However, cognitive behavioral therapy requires a level |
| parents and some psychologists disagree with these | | | | of problem solving and critical thinking that is not often |
| methods. | | | | present in childhood. For this reason, it is not commonly |
| Overall, many parents discover that once their child | | | | used in children with bipolar disorder under a certain |
| has been put on bipolar medications, the child seems to | | | | age or maturity level. Some believe that the techniques |
| lose some of their personality traits that endear them | | | | learned through cognitive behavioral therapy could be |
| to the parents. Children, and adults, who have been | | | | equally viable in treating childhood bipolar disorder if the |
| overly medicated or medicated when not absolutely | | | | exercises and learning could be geared toward |
| necessary lose a sense of who they are. Some | | | | children. This, however, could prove difficult. |
| medications can make children overly despondent, | | | | In the end, treatment options must be discussed with |
| seeming "out of it" or "spacey." This causes concern | | | | pediatricians, psychiatrists, psychologists, parents, and |
| for parents and doctors, and raises the question of | | | | teachers. Everyone involved in childhood must be |
| whether or not the child is really better off on | | | | involved in the treatment process in order for it to be |
| medication. | | | | successful. If a parent or teacher has concerns about |
| Play therapy can be quite effective in helping children | | | | the effects of childhood treatment for bipolar disorder |
| with bipolar disorder live more successful childhoods. | | | | in their child or student, those concerns should be |
| This play therapy typically involves placing children in | | | | expressed immediately so that changes in treatment |
| various hypothetical situations in which they must work | | | | can be made. Additionally, parents should not be afraid |
| out a logical and emotionally healthy solution. While play | | | | to change doctors if they feel their child is not |
| therapy is very successful in some children, it is not | | | | benefiting from treatment or medication. |
| enough for others. In certain childhood cases of bipolar | | | | To learn more, check out Bipolar Disabilities Guide. |