What Parents Need to Know About Bipolar Disorder in Children

Does your child display excessive emotional changes? How about outbursts of anger, excitability, anxiety, or rage, followed by periods of depression and despondency? These mood swings can be the first expressions of bipolar disorder, a serious psychiatric condition that often begins in adolescence or early childhood.

Bipolar disorder is marked by drastic shifts into mania and depression. People with the disorder can experience manic episodes involving euphoria, grandiose self-image, high irritability and agitation, decreased desire to sleep, racing thoughts, or impulsive, often destructive behaviors. They also can go through periods of profound depression, which can include feelings of low self-esteem, hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts or actions. Despite these strong symptoms, bipolar disorder often goes unidentified and untreated. In fact, a person with bipolar waits an average of nearly ten years between a first-time bipolar mood episode and receiving a treatment specifically for bipolar disorder. While many who have bipolar are first diagnosed as adults, the presentation of bipolar symptoms are often traced back to childhood. Since about one-fourth of all completed suicides may be related to bipolar disorder, it’s critical that professionals and parents clearly understand when young children and adolescents are exhibiting the first signs of bipolar mood swings. This is essential in developing an early intervention treatment plan.

It’s important to know that bipolar disorder is a mental illness that has genetic and neurological foundations. That means bipolar is hereditary, and is essentially coded in the individual’s DNA. As the brain develops, these genetic factors affect how the brain handles emotional regulation. Commonly, the first signs of bipolar disorder occur during adolescence. This is likely related to hormonal changes, as well as increased social and academic pressures that can all become catalysts for bipolar symptoms. But pre-pubescent children can also express symptoms of bipolar.

So look for drastic and even destructive forms of depression, along with periods of high excitability and irritability. Stark changes in energy levels and distractibility are typical in bipolar disorder. Most importantly, any signs of suicidal thoughts or gestures should be taken seriously. When children have bipolar disorder, they frequently display cycles involving suicidal expressions and even attempts. Self-harm and early problems with substance abuse are also common, and should be immediately addressed with the proper treatment professionals.