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Bipolar Disorders: A Guide to Helping Children and A Guide to Helping Children & Adolescents

By Mitzi Waltz
December 1999
Pages: 460
ISBN 10: 1-56592-656-0 | ISBN 13: 9781565926561
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Book description

A million children and adolescents in the United States may have childhood-onset bipolar disorder, including an estimated 23 percent of those currently diagnosed with ADHD. Bipolar Disorders helps parents and professionals recognize, treat, and cope with bipolar disorders in children and adolescents. It covers diagnosis, family life, medications, talk therapies, other interventions (improving sleep patterns, diet, preventing seasonal mood swings), insurance, and school.
Full Description

Until recently, bipolar disorders were almost never diagnosed in children and rarely recognized in adolescents, even though between 20 and 40 percent of the two million or more adults diagnosed with bipolar disorders in the United States experienced the onset of illness in their teen years or before. Psychiatrists now recognize that manic depression has frequently been misdiagnosed as ADHD (or oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, or depression). According to recent data, 23 percent of children currently diagnosed with ADHD will evenutally be diagnosed as having a bipolar disorder. As many as a million children in the US alone may have childhood-onset bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorders are different in children than in adults. There are some diagnostic criteria unique to children. Some reckless behavior is limited by being a child and being under adult control. Families and communities pay a heavy toll when this disorder is not recognized and treated. Suicide is a possible outcome, as are school failure, limited job prospects, legal difficulties, and hospitalizations. Understanding and recognizing the differences in the illness for children and adolescents is key for concerned parents and professionals. Bipolar Disorders covers the range of topics that parents need to know about in order to help their children:
  • Description of the range of bipolar disorders
  • Diagnostic criteria, current and proposed, including comparisons to common misdiagnoses
  • Family life with bipolar disorders, including recognizing and preventing mood swings, safety, and support
  • Medications, with special attention to the physiology and responses of children and adolescents
  • Therapeutic interventions in various "talk therapies"
  • Other interventions, such as improving sleep patterns, preventing seasonal mood swings, diet, and supplements
  • Insurance issues
  • school, including special education system and 504 Plans or EIPs
As author Mitzi Waltz notes, "With early intervention, the possibilities for these kids are limitless."

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Cover | Table of Contents | Index | Sample Chapter


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Bipolar Disorders Review,  February 14 2000
Submitted by Kelley Henderson   [Respond | View]



Currently dealing with Psychiatrists who will NOT formally diagnose my 11 year old son with Bipolar Disorder even though they verbally acknowledge this diagnosis and are treating him with meds for Bipolar disorder-has had problems since the age of 5. They say he is too young to be "formally" diagnosed at this point-which doesn't help when trying to have the schools recognize a need for an appropriate IEP, counseling, flexibility,understanding, and eligibility for disabilty to cover counseling and med costs related to this illness that is only particially covered by insurance companies due to their restricted coverage of Mental Health related costs. There is a need for a Parenting Skills group specifically geared toward children with this disorder. Ordinary and common parenting skills often are not effective with a Bipolar child.KKH

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Media reviews "An excellent plain-language guide for parents of children and adolescents with bipolar disorders, explaining diagnosis and common misdiagnoses, medications and responses, therapeutic interventions, and alternative therapies. Gives advice on family life and support, and discusses insurance issues and working within the educational system. Material is detailed yet easy to understand. Includes an extensive list of resources such as groups and agencies, publications, web sites, mail order pharmacies, and alternative medicine resources. The author is a journalist and mother of a daughter with the disorder."
--Book News

"As bipolar disorders are becoming more commonly diagnosed in children and adolescents, a readable, informative guide for these youths and their families is certainly needed.This book certainly fits the bill. It covers all of the major topics that are of greatest importance to guide parents and families on the topic of pediatric bipolarity: diagnosis, medications, psychotherapy, and working with schools and the community." --Robert L. Findling, M.D., Director, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; Co-director, Stanley Clinical Research Center Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals of Cleveland

"[This book] is certainly a *must read* for anyone newly diagnosed as bipolar or with a loved one with bipolar." --Stephanie Kirkpatrick, bipolar and mother of bipolar child

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