Symptoms And Treatment Of Bipolar Disorder

Manic depression disorder, more commonly known today as bipolar disorder, is a mental illness that can affect any age, race, or gender. It is not prejudiced, and has a grim prognosis if the symptoms are not treated or controlled in some fashion. Bipolar disorder is, by Boris Birmaher as the presence of recurrent episodes of mania or hypomania with and without episodes of depression (Birmaher, 2013). As explained by Hockenbury and Hockenbury, a manic episode can be sudden and escalates the emotional state of the individual causing them to have extreme euphoria, as well as more excitement, physical energy, and a more rapid thought and speech process. A depressive episode can also come on suddenly and leaves the individual in a lost state, where they are tired, and no longer find enjoyment from activities that they once loved and could lead to suicidal thoughts or actions (Hockenbury & Hockenbury, 2014). A person does not mentally mature fully until about the age of 25. Meaning that a 25 year old has different brain processes than a 10 year old. Because of this, there have been many studies conducted on the controversy between whether or not bipolar disorder should be diagnosed in children and adolescents.

According to the video's statistic, the diagnosis of bipolar disorder increased to four thousand percent during the last decade. This labeling process seems to be almost a medical crime, where modern "Walter Freemans" easily manipulate and experiment the biochemical processes in the developing child's brain by using strong mood stabilizers and antipsychotic drugs. Nevertheless, it puzzled me why so many doctors do not want to start with a mild therapeutical approach. For example, in many other countries treating childhood's behavior problems with pharmaceutical substances is still almost a nonexistent practice. Instead of medications, other therapies are offered through special programs in school or kindergarten, where children learned to develop coping mechanisms.

The DSM-5(2013) section on Bipolar and related disorders includes diagnoses for Bipolar I disorder, Bipolar II disorder, cyclothymic disorder, substance/medication induced bipolar and related disorder, bipolar and related disorder due to another medical condition, other specified bipolar and related disorder and unspecified bipolar and related disorder there is no classification for pediatric or early onset bipolar disorder. Though there is the following statement “the recognition that many individuals, particularly children and, to a lesser extent, adolescents, experience bipolar-like phenomenon that do not meet the criteria for bipolar I, bipolar II, or cyclothymic disorder is reflected in the availability of the other specified bipolar and related category. Indeed, specific criteria for a disorder involving short-duration hypomania are provided in Section III in the hope of encouraging further study of this disorder.” (American Psychiatric Association, 2013) . For DSM-5(2013) diagnosis purposes pediatric bipolar disorder would seem to fall under 296.89 Other Specified Bipolar and Related Disorders presentation 3 which is Hypomanic episode without prior major depressive episode. This presentation describes clients who have had one or more manic episodes but has not met the full criteria for a major depressive or manic episode. Fristad & MacPherson (2014) discuss that Bipolar disorder once was thought to be a disorder of adulthood but recently research has suggested

Bipolar disorder is an affliction that affects many Americans. Children who live with parents who have this disorder often are neglected. Children are often not able to have a voice within their homes. The quality of life, emotional stability and childhood necessities are impacted by children raised by bipolar parents.

When watching the film, I thought it showed very supported reasons why children and young teens shouldn’t be on powerful medications. While watching The Medicated Child many questions were brought to my attention. I think it’s hard to completely say if a child is bipolar or not. Especially, because the diagnostic and statistical manual(DSM) only shows symptoms for adults suffering from bipolar not children. Also, it can take months and even years to actually diagnose a person with full blown bipolar disorder. I think even if a child is showing clear text book symptoms of bipolar they shouldn’t be put on a huge amount of different medications. The reason being the medications have not been tested on children so the side effects are unknown.

The World Health Organization states that over 60 million people worldwide have bipolar disorder. According to several studies, a significant proportion of the children and adolescents with depression may actually be experiencing the early onset of adolescent bipolar disorder, but have not yet experienced the manic phase of the illness. It is also suspected that a significant number of children diagnosed with attention-deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADHD) actually have early-onset bipolar disorder instead of or alongside of ADHD. For example, an elementary school age child who seems difficult to settle in a classroom and cannot concentrate or refuses to do so might actually be showing the first adolescent bipolar disorder signs.”

In diagnosing a child, it can be very hard knowing whether they are just acting out, or if there is really something wrong. Children now are way over prescribed medications, especially with bipolar disorder or ADHD. According to a 2007 study by Archives of General Psychology these diagnoses majorly increased from 1994 to 2003, 50% of these children were put on medication. In his study it shows that in 2006, 165 children suffered life threatening ailments from being over prescribed antipsychotics. In conclusion, children are way over prescribed medications and it is completely unhealthy, it needs to be put

The illness can appear at a rate of one in 200 children and will more likely affect them when a parent has the disorder. (Hotline Information) Children’s moods are hard to read, causing more difficulty diagnosing it. The mood swings do not last as long as they do in adulthood, at times it can even fluctuate from hour to hour. (Cognitive Flexibility and Performance in Children and Adolescents with Threshold and Subthreshold Bipolar Disorder) Distinguishing the disorder from ADHD makes things even more complex, being as the symptoms are very similar. (Bipolar Disorder in Children) Giving children medication for this disorder is not too

“Up to one-third of the 3.4 million children and adolescents with depression in the United States may actually be experiencing the early onset of bipolar disorder.”, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. The battle with bipolar disorder has a severe impact on the life of adolescents resulting in the need for medication. Medication is needed for adolescents with bipolar disorder due to the fact is has negative impact on social life, academics, and on physical health.Bipolar disorder is classified as a mood disorder in which people experience series of “manic highs” and “depressed low”.

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.

Since the 1990s, the amount of children who are diagnosed with a form of bipolar disorder have rocketed sky high. Children, like adults can possibly have neurological issues in the brain that does not allow them to function properly. These children are seen as hyperactive, aggressive people who are not able to control themselves mentally and emotionally. They can be described as a “ticking time bomb”, and people having to walk on eggshells around them, not knowing if it is going to be the euphoric or the depressed child, they are going to be dealing with. In this literature review, the following topics will be mentioned: the description of what bipolar disorder is; the types of bipolar disorders; the child’s state of mind in the disorder; the causes of bipolar disorder; The DSM-V criteria for diagnosing Bipolar disorder; and the treatment of the disorder.

The onset of bipolar disorder is usually in late adolescence or early adulthood (7). It is possible for both children and adolescents to develop the disease as well. This usually happens when there is a family history for the disease. Children afflicted by bipolar disorder are usually more irritable and destructive during their manic states and are more prone to mixed states (9). It is even harder to diagnose bipolar disorder in children because it is often confused with other problems that occur at a younger age such as attention deficit disorder, conduct disorder, major depression, or schizophrenia (9).

Bipolar Disorder (BD) is a mental disorder that is most likely found in adults. Over the past 10 years BD has been found not only in adults, but also in children. Many arguments has been made on whether children can be actually diagnosed with BD. The article written by Stuart Kaplan that explains that BD cannot be found in children is the most compelling because of the evidence and his sources.