It is only recently that children are being diagnosed with bipolar disorder. So far there are no rates of incidence, or many studies to gather information from. In children, bipolar disorder is often seen as mixed states of depression and mania. Many children have been incorrectly diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) instead of bipolar disorder, often because of the commonality of symptoms of both disorders. For information on the depression side of bipolar disorder in children, see the information under Depression on this website. Symptoms of mania in children can include the following:
 

•    Low self esteem
•    Aggressive behaviour or temper tantrums that can last several hours
•    Impulsivity
•    Hyperactivity
•    Trouble maintaining relationships with peers
      and/or anxiety in social situations
•    Racing thoughts, inability to concentrate
•    Grandiose ideas or thoughts
•    Easily distracted
•    Difficulty completing tasks, jumping from one activity to another
•    Carbohydrate cravings
•    Depressed mood
 

These symptoms can manifest in the following ways:

•    Bedwetting (especially in boys)
•    Difficulty getting up in the morning
•    Destruction of property
•    Suicidal thoughts or behaviours
•    Lying
•    Learning problems/learning disabilities
•    Compulsive and/or obsessive behaviour
•    Fascination or focus on morbid or gory topics and images
•    Rapid speech
•    Night terror
•    Excessive daydreaming
•    Hyper sexuality
 

Children diagnosed with bipolar disorder can have interrupted learning, decreased social abilities and difficulty managing their symptoms even with medication. There are side effects of medications, and in children these side effects can be more intense and troubling than in adults. In the long term it seems that children with bipolar disorder have symptoms over months or years, longer than in adult onset bipolar disorder. As more research is done into children with bipolar disorder new ways of managing the illness will become known. It is important that parents who suspect their child may have bipolar disorder to get professional medical intervention; diagnosis and treatment is critical to children’s success as adults.