Bi-Polar Disorder Different in Children

A comprehensive landmark study of children and adolescents with bi-polar disorder has been released.  The overall finding of this study is that the symptoms last longer and swing more rapidly from hyperactivity and recklessness to lethargy and depression.

The study followed 400 children and teenagers for as long as 5 years which represents the largest and longest study of its kind.  Bi-polar disorder effects as many as 750,000 children and teenagers in the United States.  Given the typically severe symptoms of bi-polar disorder which would have adverse consequences for school performance, many of these children qualify or should qualify for special education.

It is important for parents to share the results of this report with school personnel.  In my experience  schools often dismiss moodiness, lethargy, hyperactivity, and poor judgment and similar  traits as being simple byproducts of adolescence, instead of bi-polar or some other serious mental illness which could have dramatic consequences.  I have seen too many instances where even at the point that the child's mental illness has reached acute and dangerous proportions, the school personnel will not acknowledge the magnitude of the problem.  Recently, I was at meeting regarding a high school student who is self cutting; this manifestation of his internal issues was discovered during a doctor's physical examination. The mother presented this discovery at an IEP which I attended with her. The school personnel while not indifferent, treated this discovery with a degree of nonchalance that surprised me. Their explanation was that self cutting was a "fashion statement" and many students did that to fit in.  It has been many years since I was in high school but I have severe doubts and reservations as to the school's position.

With this research clinicians, parents and school personnel will hopefully be able to recognize the line between bi-polar disorder and normal teenaged conduct to more effectively plan.  The Juvenile Bi-Polar Research Foundation has many resources to assist parents and school personnel to support children and teens with bi-polar disorder.

Comments

[Kathy Hybl]

Glad you brought this topic up. The problem is that many "disorders" (i.e., ADHD, bipolar disorder)share similar traits. I do think there is great deal of mislabeling. I had one parent recently tell me that her child with CP, who has shown remarkable improvement, was just recently dx has having HFA while another student that was dx with ADHD has now been classified as bipolar by the same doctor. How can we expect consensus among school personnel when the science and medical profession is still trying to figure it out. I think we need to worry less about the label but keep track of the behaviors and develop appropriate IEPs. Maybe all of these will be end up being connected - have you read the latest Geier report?

[Rochelle Skolnick]

Another resource for parents of bipolar kids is the Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation: http://www.bpkids.org
CABF has a number of publications about pediatric BPD for educators, including a very good pamphlet entitled "Educating the Child With Bipolar Disorder."
You are absolutely right to call attention to this particular diagnosis in the context of special education.