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Bipolar disorder, commonly known as manic-depression, is a brain disorder characterized by extreme changes in mood, thinking and behavior. In extreme cases, these changes can be accompanied by delusions or hallucinations. These changes, or cycles, can be slow or rapid and symptoms vary widely in severity. This variety can make it difficult to reach a diagnosis, especially in childhood and early adolescence.

It is a common misconception that bipolar disorder typically appears in early adulthood but that is not the case. Research shows a higher incidence and earlier age of onset in every generation for the past 60 years. On average a sufferer will experience their first episode of this disease 10 years earlier than their parent's generation. The reason for this earlier onset is unknown but could be partially due to a growing awareness of mental health issues, especially in youth.

There are three main obstacles to recognizing and diagnosing bipolar disorder in children and young adolescents:

1. Mental health professionals go by standards set forth in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV (DSM-IV). This book gives the criteria that must be met in order to diagnose any known mental illness. The criteria for bipolar disorder, along with recommended standards of treatment, were written based only on data from adults with the disease. Symptoms in children and young teenagers very often do not precisely fit into the adult criteria in the DSM-IV.

2. In children and adolescents, symptoms of bipolar disorder can be very similar or even co-occur with symptoms of other common childhood onset mental disorders. This frequently results in misdiagnoses or only partially correct diagnoses.

3. Many times, symptoms are ignored or overlooked as typical teenage angst or rebellion. Parents don't think of having their child evaluated until they are faced with serious consequences such as injury or police involvement.

There are high risks associated with undiagnosed bipolar disorder. Suicide rates are upwards of 10% in those left untreated. There is also a high incidence of school failure and substance abuse, along with failed relationships and difficulty holding jobs later in life. Early intervention and treatment are the keys to achieving stability for those suffering from early onset bipolar disorder.

Learn more about this author, Tina Golden.
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