Should Bipolar Disorder Be Diagnosed? Children?

“Bipolar disorder, also commonly known as manic depression, is defined as a serious mental illness in which common emotions become intensely and often unpredictably magnified. Individuals with bipolar disorder can quickly alternate from extremes of happiness, energy and clarity to sadness, fatigue and confusion. All people with bipolar disorder have manic episodes abnormally elevated or irritable moods that last at least a week and impair functioning. But not all become depressed ” (American Psychological Association, 2015). Bipolar disorder can vary in each individual. The symptoms fluctuate in pattern, severity and rate of recurrence. Some people are more susceptible to either mania or depression, while others change proportionately between the two types of episodes. Some have frequent mood disruptions, while others live through a few throughout their lifetime.

Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness that is characterized by changes in mood. It can lead to risky behavior, damage relationships and careers, and even suicidal outcomes if it’s not treated. Bipolar disorder is more common in older teenagers and young adults, it can affect children as young as 6. Women experience more periods of depression than men. More remains to be learned about this condition that affects millions of people.

Bipolar disorder is a manic-depressive lifelong illness in the brain that causes shifts in mood, energy, activity, and the ability to carry out normal tasks, but efficient treatment helps people to manage these complications and normalize their daily lives. This illness is a very serious mental disease affecting about 2.6 percent of adults in the United States that has the power to cause risky behavior and even suicidal tendencies if not treated (www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/bipolar-disorder/index.shtml). It is more common in older teens and young adults, but it affects children as young as six years old. It affects men and women, all races, ethnic groups, and socioeconomic classes equally but women experience more periods of depression than

For an episode to be categorized as manic, the patients’ mood has been irritable or abnormally elevated for at least 1 week. A person must also exhibit at least 3 of the following symptoms (4 if the mood is only irritable): extreme feelings of personal greatness; a decreased need for sleep, marked talkativeness; distractibility; extreme focus on a goal-directed activity; reports of ‘racing’ thoughts or a flight of ideas; or excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that have a high potential for painful consequences (i.e. sexual indiscretions or unintelligent business investments). As in the criteria for a depressed episode, the DSM-IV specifies that these symptoms should not be better explained as being a side effect of a drug or illness to qualify as a manic episode. These symptoms must interfere with the person’s normal functioning and must not meet the criteria for a mixed episode. As with adults, childhood-onset bipolar disorder has many faces. Children with Bipolar I Disorder have episodes of mania and episodes of depression, sometimes there are long periods of normal moods between episodes. Adults usually tend to have more depressed episodes than manic episodes. However, some children will have chronic mania (symptoms of mania lasting for long periods of time or marked by frequent recurrence) and seldom experience a depressed episode.

The National Institute of Mental Health has defined bipolar disorder as a serious mental illness that is marked by extreme changes in mood that range between two states: manic and depressive. Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is classified as a mood disorder. This disorder goes beyond the typical ups and downs. Bipolar disorder is becoming more prevalent amongst children and teenagers and it is seen as a much more serious medical condition than it has in the past. A manic episode is characterized by feeling the following: very happy, excited, impulsive, show a short temper, talk really fast about a

Bipolar Disorder which many researchers and physicians also refer to as Manic Depression is a mental or mood disorder that affects approximately 5.7 million adults age 18 and over in the United States, or 2.6% of the population. Bipolar disorder affects an individual by he or she experiencing episodes of highs also referred to as mania by clinicians, and lows also known as depression. The length of these periods will vary from person to person and may last anywhere from a few short hours to days, weeks, or even months. When a person experiences a manic episode they may feel extremely happiness, irritability, hyperactivity and may need little to no sleep. During an episode of depression the individual may experience extreme sadness, hopelessness,

Bipolar is a mental disorder which is known for a brain disorder that causes constant changing of moods, activity levels, and the ability to carry out every day activities, relationships with family and friends and possibly workplace functioning. The areas that the brain is affected by bipolar is the frontal and temporal lobes of the forebrain, the prefrontal cortex, the basal ganglia, and parts of the limbic system (Bressert, 2007). The hippocampus may also play a role in bipolar disorder, as structural changes to this area of the brain have been associated with this disorder in some individuals. It is also known by its older name “manic depression” (Bressert, 2007). A manic episode is described to be like feelings of intensified energy levels, creativity, and euphoria are common. People that experience a manic episodes talk a mile a minute, hardly sleeps, and are hyperactive; they may also feel that they’re all-powerful, invincible, or destined for the best (Bressert, 2007). Bipolar is described as an emotional roller coaster. A person that is diagnosed with bipolar will experience highs that are known as manic episodes and lows that are known as depression (Bressert, 2007). These periods have different lengths of time, they can last for a few hours or ranging days or possibly even longer; they can last up to a few weeks up to months at one given time. This disorder is a long term and chronic condition with a variety of treatments.

All of the information above was taken from an article by Kim S. Griswold and Lind F. Pessar in the September 15, 2000 issue of the American Family Physician. In the past adolescent children were rarely diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Diagnosing bipolar disorder in children is a very confusing and complex process. It is thought that the onset of puberty is a trigger to bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder is unique by means of disorderly dramatic mood shifts that alternate among depressed lows and elation (mania). Manic symptoms can consist of: irritation, anger, elevated liveliness; swift talking and feelings, decrease necessity for sleep, elevated sense of arrogance, trouble concentrating, distressed judgment, amplified irresponsibility (frequently concerning money, drugs, alcohol, or sex). Bipolar disorder afflicts up to 10 million people in the United States and is the fifth leading cause of disability worldwide. The disorder affects males and females equally. Bipolar disorder can occur at any time although the disease typically presents before age 35. Persons between the ages of 15 and 25 years have the utmost risk of developing this disorder. However, the impediment amid the initial signs and symptoms of the disorder and appropriate diagnosis and treatment is often ten

Bipolar disorder, also called manic depression, is a systemic disorder that affects a person both mentally and physically. While talking about diseases and disorders may be hard for some, it is vital that we do in order to have an understanding of them. Bipolar disorder affects so many people in the world that it is highly likely that you probably know someone suffering from it. It is a disorder that we are still making discoveries about each and everyday, and will continue to do so in order to satisfy our thirst for knowledge. Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness that not many people have a full understanding of.

Bipolar Disorder can be difficult to diagnose and often goes misdiagnosed for years. Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder usually begin to show in persons late teens or

The cause of bipolar disorder is unknown, but this is a condition that tends to run in families (2). Specific genes may play a role, however it is most likely that many different genes act together to play a role. Bipolar disorder can occur in childhood, but it is an unpredictable disease that can emerge anytime throughout one’s life (3). Men and women are both equally as likely to suffer from bipolar disorder. However, according to Medletter’s 2010 publication, a study of 48 older adults with bipolar disorder showed that women were 2.8 times more likely to be in the late-onset group.

There is a lack of research to identify, describe, assess and diagnose cases of early onset of bipolar disorder in children. We are giving children this serious label without even being sure what the researchers want to name it. Is it called pediatric or juvenile BP, prepuberty, or pubertal BP? These names also may not refer to any of the same conditions. Then researchers came up with a broad term so doctors don 't have to be as specific about the symptoms, so they called is Early Onset Bipolar. “Researchers differ on how they elicit, assess, characterize, and count criteria”(AACAP pg. 5). It is my belief that we are lacking research in child bipolar cases because this is a rare disorder seen in children.

Bipolar disorder is a disorder of the brain and is also called manic-depressive illness. Due to this disorder, the affected individual experiences abnormal mood shifts, unusual levels of energy and activities and atypical ability to perform tasks of daily life. As far as symptoms of bipolar disorder are concerned, they are rather severe in nature. They are not like the usual ups and downs experienced by people once in a while. Bipolar disorder has been found to cause serious damage to relationships, poor performance (academically or professionally. It can even cause patients to attempt suicidal actions. However, the good thing is that there is treatment available for bipolar disorder. For this reason, a number of people have been able to lead contented and productive lives after receiving the appropriate medications and treatment. The development of bipolar disorder often takes place during late adolescent or early adult years. The facts and figures reveal that a majority of people experience the symptoms of bipolar disorder before reaching the age of twenty-five ("Bipolar Disorder").

At least 2 million Americans suffer from bipolar disorder, more commonly known as manic-depression. This illness usually begins in adolescence or early adulthood and continues throughout life. Although it may come into affect at any time, most individuals with the disorder experience their first mood episode in their 20’s. However, manic-depression quite often strike teenagers and has been diagnosed in children under 12.