Early Onset Bipolar Disorder

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Plus - I have one of these kids! You can read My Story to learn more about my son.

My favorite book about the early onset disorder and a MUST READ for parents is "The Bipolar Child" by Demitri Papolos, M.D., and Janice Papolos. This is an especially important read if you were told your child is ADHD only to have him not respond to any traditional medication treatment for the disorder.

Why, you might ask?

Because children with the disorder, or the less intrusive sounding "Mood Disorder, NOS" (not otherwise specified) exhibit behaviors and temperaments that can easily be misinterpreted as ADHD behaviors.

Visit the ADHD vs. bipolar page for some specific discussion on the topic.

In the meantime, here are some examples the Papolos' give of the differences:

• ADHD children might break things accidentally whereas bp children break things in anger
• temper tantrums in ADHD children are the result of sensory or emotional overstimulation whereas bp children react to limit setting like hearing "no"
• ADHD children misbehave due to oblivious inattention, whereas bp children might intentionally do so
• ADHD children might engage in risky behavior because they are unaware of the danger whereas bp children purposefully risk seek

There can also be specific disparities in behaviors among different age groups of children. For more information regarding the specific age groups of bipolar toddlers, children, or teens, visit therapist Kristen McClure's site.

So here, I implore upon you; if anywhere in your family history are mood disorders of any kind (this includes bp), PLEASE make sure the diagnosing physician or psychiatrist is very aware of that history.

With a proper diagnosis you will potentially save yourself and your child months, maybe years of ineffective and potentially dangerous treatment.

If you are, or feel you might be, the parent of a mood disordered child, you should also check out bpkids.org. It is a great website with extensive message boards and forums where parents can learn a lot from each other.

In addition, if you are looking for a way to explain to your child what is going on with them, I encourage you to check out a fabulous children's book; "Bipolar Bubbles : A Positive Journey Through the Eyes of a Child with Bipolar Disorder". It is a written by Deborah and Avalon Theisen based on their own daughter's experience with bipolar.

"Bipolar Bubbles: A Positive Journey Through the Eyes of a Child with Bipolar Disorder"
- Deborah Theisen and Avalon Theisen