- Contents
- Introduction
- What is bipolar disorder?
- What are the signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder in children and adolescents?
- How does bipolar disorder affect children and adolescents differently than adults?
- How is bipolar disorder detected in children and adolescents?
- What illnesses often co-exist with bipolar disorder in children and adolescents?
- What treatments are available for children and adolescents with bipolar disorder?
- Medications
- Psychotherapy
- What can children and adolescents with bipolar disorder expect from treatment?
- Where can families of children with bipolar disorder get help?
- What if my child is in crisis?
- Citations
- For more information on bipolar disorder
Introduction
All parents can relate to the many changes their kids go through as they grow up. But sometimes it's hard to tell if a child is just going through a "phase," or showing signs of something more serious.
In the last decade, the number of children receiving the diagnosis of bipolar disorder, sometimes, called manic-depressive illness, has grown substantially.1 But what does the diagnosis really mean for a child?
This booklet discusses bipolar disorder in children and teens. For information on bipolar disorder in adults, see the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) booklet Bipolar Disorder in Adults.
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