Behavioural and Emotional Disorders

Bipolar Disorder

Does your child display extreme changes in mood and behaviour?

Does your child get much more excited or more irritable than other kids?

Have you noticed your child going through cycles of extreme highs and lows more often than other children?

Do these mood changes affect how they act at home or in school?

If you said “yes” to most of the questions above, your child might be displaying symptoms of Bipolar Disorder.

What is Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar disorder is a mental disorder that causes unusual, and sometimes extreme, shifts in activity levels, concentration, mood, energy, and day-to-day functioning.

Although bipolar disorder is most often diagnosed in teenagers and adults, bipolar disorder is still possible in children. In fact, bipolar disorder can occur in children of any age. However, with early intervention, children and teenagers with bipolar disorder can also get better over time!

As in adults, bipolar disorder in kids can cause unusual mood cycling from the highs of hyperactivity or euphoria (mania) to the lows of serious depression, with periods of feeling very “down”, sad or hopeless.

There are three types of bipolar disorder, as described below:

What are some signs and symptoms of Bipolar Disorder in children?

Emotional upheaval and unruly behaviours are a normal part of childhood and teenage years, and in most cases, they are not signs of a mental health disorder that requires addressing.

Bipolar disorder is also not the same as the normal ups and downs every child goes through. The mood changes in bipolar disorder are more extreme, often unprovoked, and accompanied by changes in sleep, energy level, and the ability to think clearly. These can make it hard for young people to perform well in school or to get along with friends and family members.

If your child’s symptoms are severe, ongoing or causing significant problems in day-to-day living, then it could be more than just a phase. Here are the most frequent and useful symptoms for distinguishing Bipolar Disorder from other problems in childhood:

Ψ Rapid mood shifts

Ψ Significant Irritability

Ψ Grandiosity

Ψ Decreased need for sleep over a period of three to seven days

Symptoms during manic and depressive episodes may differ vastly. Here are some symptoms you can look out for in your child:

What causes Bipolar Disorder in children?

It is not yet known what causes bipolar disorder. However, it is generally agreed that there is no single cause and there are several factors that may be associated with it:

Ψ Family History: Children with a parent or sibling with bipolar disorder are more likely to get the illness. This is approximately five times more likely when a first degree relative has a bipolar disorder.

Ψ Genetics: Some research suggests that people with certain genes are more likely to develop bipolar disorder. Many genes are often involved, and no one gene can cause the disorder.

Ψ Anxiety Disorder: Many children with bipolar disorder also experience significant anxiety.

Ψ Neurotransmitters, Brain Structure and Functioning: Bipolar disorder is a disorder of brain development that likely involves differences in neurotransmitters, brain structures and/or the function of specific brain structures. Some studies suggest the brains of people with bipolar disorder may differ from the brains of people who do not have bipolar disorder or any other mental disorder.

Ψ Environment: Stress, loss of a loved one and/or abuse may trigger bipolar disorder. Both negative and positive stresses (achieving an award or accomplishment) can serve as a contributing trigger to bipolar disorder symptoms.

How can I help my child who may have Bipolar Disorder?

Early intervention is key to better intervention outcomes. If you suspect that your child may have bipolar disorder, you may make an appointment here at Annabelle Psychology with a clinical psychologist to discuss the symptoms you have noticed. Other things you can do to support your child include:

Ψ Being patient.

Ψ Being understanding.

Ψ Being supportive.

Ψ Encouraging your child to talk and listen carefully.

Ψ Explaining how the intervention plan works.

Ψ Helping your child have fun.

Ψ Seeking early intervention and other professional help for your child when necessary.

How is Bipolar Disorder managed?

There is no cure for bipolar disorder, but with effective intervention, it is possible for children to live normal lives. Intervention usually involves a combination of medication and psychotherapy.

Psychotherapy mainly helps with longer-term symptom management and coping strategies. There are different types of psychotherapy that can help children with bipolar disorder. For instance, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) helps children and adolescents to identify possible triggers of manic and depressive episodes, such as stress and lack of sleep, and to use specific thinking and behavioral strategies to improve their coping.

Family-focused therapy (FFT) may also be offered to you and your child, since the family environment plays an important role in how the disorder manifests. FFT will focus on increasing the understanding of Bipolar Disorder among family members, improving family communication and problem-solving, and decreasing unhelpful patterns of interaction that place the child at higher risk of relapse.

Overall, therapy can help children manage their episodes and alter their behaviour for the long term. It can also improve other psychosocial elements associated with bipolar disorder such as depression, low self-esteem and communication issues with family and friends. Family therapy and education about the illness is an important part of the overall intervention.

What can children and teenagers expect from intervention plans?

With intervention, children and teens with bipolar disorder can better manage their symptoms and feel better over time! Usually, intervention is more effective when healthcare professionals, parents, and children work together.

Sometimes a child’s symptoms may change, or disappear and then come back. When this happens, your child’s clinical psychologist or other healthcare provider may recommend changes to the intervention plan. Intervention can take time but sticking with the intervention plan can help them manage their symptoms and reduce the likelihood of future episodes.

Your child’s psychologist may also recommend keeping a daily life chart or mood chart to track their moods, behaviours, and sleep patterns. This may make it easier to track the illness and see whether the intervention is working.