Bipolar Disorder in Children: A Serious Mental Disease
Often not recognized as a psychological problem, because it is episodic, Bipolar disorder typically begins in adolescence or early adulthood and continues throughout life. Consequently, years without treatment such as bipolar medication can cause people with the symptoms suffer needlessly.
What is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder is an illness characterized by its mood swings, which range from depressive, manic and hypomanic episodes. Hypomanic is a condition similar to mania but less severe and difficult to diagnose because it can disguise itself as mere happiness. A lot of people experience mixed episodes that presents symptoms of both depression and mania all at once. Exhibiting depressive, manic or hypomanic symptoms, an individual with bipolar disorder (manic depression) may have all the mania symptoms, but may also be struggling with the black thoughts of depression.
How is Adolescent Bipolar Different?
Bipolar disorder is defined as a medical condition in which people mood swings out of proportion have, or seemingly unrelated, to things going on in their lives. These swings affect thoughts, feelings, physical health, behavior, and functioning. Bipolar disorder in children and teens does not fit precisely the symptom criteria established for adults. Bipolar symptoms can resemble or co-occur with those of other common childhood-onset mental disorders or can be mistaken with trauma or abuse, drug use or normal emotions and behaviors in children and adolescents.
Being Careful.
A successful and effective treatment of bipolar disorder in children and adolescents depends a lot on the appropriate diagnosis. Taken without a mood stabilizer antidepressant medication may induce manic symptoms, as some evidence has shown, when treating depression in a person. Treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or ADHD-like symptoms in a child with bipolar disorder may worsen manic symptoms if stimulant medications are used. Having a family history of bipolar disorder can determine or has a greater likelihood among children and adolescents becoming manic. If treatment for bipolar disorder or manic symptoms develop or markedly worsen during antidepressant or stimulant use always consult your doctor.
Treating Children.
With bipolar disorder, medications to treat bipolar disorder have been well studied for use in adults. Long-term studies have also confirmed the effectiveness and safety of mood stabilizers in children and adolescents. Childrens medication must be given according to the prescription. If intolerable side effects from any medication occur make sure to call your doctor.
Treating ADHD.
There are several general differences to consider when treating adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder ADHD. In the market today are medications used for children and adolescents alike. Compared to adults, children s organs are usually small and their liver and kidney function are not as robust. Because children s body takes longer to absorb the medication, adults take less of the same medication. When doctors are giving medicine to children with ADHD they usually give a dose to every pound of body weight.
Conclusion
Diagnosis and treatment of Bipolar disorder can be tricky and often difficult because it is a very complex illness. Especially when you are dealing with adolescent bipolar. Safety is the word when dealing with medication for people with bipolar. Consulting a psychiatrist or doctor to navigate the twists and turns of people experiencing bipolar symptoms is important.
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