Can Children Have Bipolar Disorder?

Yes they can. Today we know that both adolescents and children may develop bipolar disorder. Children who have parents with bipolar disorder have a more risk of developing the disease. This young population experience very fast mood swings between mania and depression many times within the same day. This reflects the difference with episodes of bipolar adult population.

Please find below the facts about children and adolescents with bipolar disorder:

  • Children with mania are more likely to be irritable and collapsed to destructive tantrum than to be more than happy and cheered.
  • Mixed symptom are very common in this population.
  • Bipolar disorder in children and adolescents can be hard to tell apart from other problems that may occur in these age groups. For example, while irritability and aggressiveness can indicate bipolar disorder, they also can be symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, or other types of mental disorders more common among adults such as major depression or schizophrenia. Drug abuse also may lead to such symptoms.
  • Because children may behave more emotionally comparing to adults, appropriate diagnosis may be challenging from time to time which needs to be carefully evaluated.
  • If a child or adolescent is talking about suicidal thoughts, this needs an immediate action without loosing anytime. Ask for a professional help and call his/her doctor