Bipolar Disorder, formerly known as manic depressive illness, is an affective disorder that is characterized by periods of mania alternating with periods of depression; these are usually interspersed with relatively long intervals of normal mood. It is interesting to note that this disorder has been shown to be one of the commonest disorders but has only recently been given its own classification, having previously been confused with many other disorders.
Prevalence
In the 1998 American census it was discovered that 20% of the adult population, some 44.3 million, had a mental-health issue. In addition to this, 20% of the children had also been diagnosed with a behavioural or emotional issue; this equates to between 7.7 and 12.8 million children (Stillman, 2005). Bipolar Disorder is believed to affect around 2.3 million adults in America and a conservative estimate of a million children. In Sue, Sue & Sue (1997) the prevalence of bipolar disorder is placed at around 1% of the adult population while 8-17% have experienced some form of major depressive episode.
Bipolar disorder seems to be rare in children but there have been documented cases of children as young as four years old displaying the symptoms (Poznanski, Israel, & Grossman, 1984). It is interesting to note here that Taylor & Abrams (1981) suggest that about a third of all bipolar cases begin during adolescence, adding value to the focus of bipolar disorder in childhood. Papolos & Papolos (2006) add that an estimated third of all children who have been diagnosed with attention-deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADHD) have been misdiagnosed and are actually suffering from a mood disorder. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry suggest that a third of the 3.4 million children who appear to be suffering from depression will progress to the bipolar form of a mood disorder.
While most investigators agree that mood disorders are fundamentally similar in children and in adults (Lewinsohn, Hops, Roberts, Seeley, & Andrews, 1993), Papolos & Papolos suggest that children have a more “chronic course of illness” than their adult counterparts and cycle between mania and depression with relatively few periods or normal mood (2006, p. 6). Barlow & Durand give an apt description of bipolar disorder as “the tendency of manic episodes to alternate with major depressive episodes in an unending roller-coaster ride from the peaks of elation to the depths of despair”, and while...
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Bipolar Disorder: Prevalence and history
- Prevalence
- History
- Criteria
- Mood disorders
- Mania
- Depression
- Mania
- warning signs & signals
- Depression
- Grandiosity & fixations
- Co-morbidity & Misdiagnosis
- Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
- Oppositional Defiant Disorder
- Conduct Disorder
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- Triggers
- Substance abuse
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Medicating
- Antidepressants
- Mood stabilizers
- Atypical antipsychotics.
- Sleep disturbance
- Natural Supplements
- Diet & exercise
- Bipolar proofing
- Therapy & alternatives
- Family Life
- Parents
- Siblings
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This course provides a comprehensive overview of childhood bipolar disorder, exploring its prevalence, history, diagnostic criteria, and treatment options. It aims to increase understanding of this complex disorder and empower individuals with knowledge to support children diagnosed with bipolar disorder.- Prevalence and historical understanding of childhood bipolar disorder.
- Diagnostic criteria and challenges in identifying bipolar disorder in children.
- Co-morbidity and misdiagnosis of bipolar disorder in relation to other disorders.
- Treatment approaches including medication, therapy, and alternative interventions.
- Impact of bipolar disorder on family life and the role of parents and siblings.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The course begins by exploring the prevalence and historical understanding of bipolar disorder, tracing its recognition from ancient Greece to modern classification. Chapter 2 delves into diagnostic criteria, outlining the different subtypes of bipolar disorder and defining key terms like mania, depression, and hypomania. Chapter 3 discusses the complexities of co-morbidity and misdiagnosis, highlighting the challenges in differentiating bipolar disorder from other childhood conditions like ADHD, ODD, and OCD. The course continues by exploring triggers for bipolar episodes, including substance abuse and PTSD, and then delves into various treatment approaches, including medication, sleep management, natural supplements, diet and exercise, and alternative therapies. The final chapter examines the impact of bipolar disorder on family life, emphasizing the roles and responsibilities of parents and siblings.Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This course focuses on the critical terms and concepts surrounding childhood bipolar disorder. Key themes include its prevalence, diagnostic criteria, co-morbidity, misdiagnosis, treatment approaches, and the impact on family life. Important concepts include manic episodes, depressive episodes, hypomania, mood stabilizers, and the role of family support.- Quote paper
- Gary Elliott (Author), 2010, Childhood Bipolar Disorder, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/275090
