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The mental well-being of children is the need of the hour. However, unlike in the past, the world recognises the importance of identifying the symptoms of mental health issues and treating them. Paediatric bipolar disorder is one such issue, which causes children, and sometimes teenagers, to experience the symptoms of common bipolar disorder.
Do you wish to know more about paediatric bipolar disorder? Find out more about it in this article.
Children usually show a variety of emotions and responses, which are often more intense than adults. However, if you notice that your child has rapid mood swings, going through cycles of extreme highs and lows, it might be a matter of concern. Paediatric Bipolar Disorder is a mood disorder and mental health condition seen in children.
This disorder is different from bipolar disorder, which affects adults. While adults might experience longer and more precise manic episodes, children and teenagers are more likely to exhibit phases of anger, silliness, sudden outbursts and unprovoked crying.
Apart from typical mood swings, children might also experience changes in their sleeping patterns, energy level and concentration abilities. This disorder makes it difficult for them to focus, thereby deteriorating their academic performance.
There are two types of symptoms of paediatric bipolar disorder, including manic and depressive episodes. Usually, these are not as clear as bipolar episodes in adults. Instead, you might observe a mix of these in your child. Here are the symptoms of the manic episodes of this disorder.
Apart from that, depressive episodes are also common. Here are some of its symptoms.
Clinical researchers are unaware of the exact reasons responsible for causing paediatric bipolar disorder. However, based on the case studies so far, they believe that the following factors might contribute to this disorder.
There might be some factors increasing the risks of paediatric bipolar disorder. Here are some of the common risks.
If your child experiences at least one episode of mania or hypomania, you must visit the family physician, who will refer you to a professional psychologist. A psychologist might use a range of diagnostic tools and techniques. These are as follows.
Moreover, therapists will likely ask detailed questions about
Here, the therapists also rule out the possibilities of oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, ADHD, disruptive mood regulation disorder, etc. However, it is often difficult to differentiate these disorders from paediatric bipolar disorder, as their symptoms often collide.
When it comes to the treatment for paediatric bipolar disorder, psychologists have come up with several options. As bipolar disorder can be a lifelong disorder, the treatment procedure should be a long and critical one. Here are some of the popular treatment methods for this disorder.
This type of talk therapy is a commonly used treatment for this disorder among children. It can be a helpful way for therapists to identify troubling emotions, thoughts and behaviours. In addition, psychologists need to question in detail about the conditions of a child from his/her family members, friends, teachers and caregivers. The following types of psychotherapy can be used here.
Various medicines can help treat paediatric bipolar disorder. For example, therapists often use mood stabilisers and antipsychotic drugs. While these are usually effective for adults, one can also use them in severe cases of this disorder among children.
It is essential to select medicines carefully. For instance, if the child suffers attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) along with paediatric bipolar disorder, they will experience more mood swings or manic symptoms. The psychologist will then prescribe medicines accordingly.
Some common mood stabilisers here can be as follows.
Some other FDA-approved drugs include the following.
However, while taking the drugs, it is essential to know that they might have some side effects. Therefore, your child must continue the dosage despite these reactions. Stopping them abruptly can be a severe crisis.
Here are some of the most common side effects.
Consider seeing a doctor if you notice frequent mood swings and unusual behaviour patterns in your child. Apart from the primary symptoms, watch out for the following signs, making it mandatory to visit the emergency room.
There might be some co-occurring conditions of paediatric bipolar disorder. It is a severe mental health issue that can cause other conditions. Some of these are as follows.
Unfortunately, there is no particular method of preventing paediatric bipolar disorder. However, as a parent or relative, you can help your children manage and control the symptoms of this disorder with the following tips.
One of the best ways to control the methods is by providing a formal treatment, combining both psychotherapy and medication. In addition, you should encourage your children to open up and talk about their conditions and feelings regularly. They should not be scared to express their problems. Moreover, make sure to let them know that you care about them and their health conditions.
Paediatric Bipolar disorder is a complicated condition. When it occurs in children, the symptoms often get out of control. Therefore, you need to be patient with your kid as a parent. Even if they are violent and aggressive, you need to be calm and handle the situation with a presence of mind. It will be beneficial for reducing the intensity of the triggers.
It will be helpful to analyse your child's mood swings and identify a pattern in that. This way, you can understand the common triggers and try to keep your child away from such situations. This will also be beneficial for you to predict the episodes and try to control them. Here, you should stay in touch with the child's friends, tutors and caregivers.
Maintaining a diary will be essential, as the treatment process will be lengthy. You can record the child's treatment, medicines and overall routine. Moreover, you can keep notes of their episodes and behaviour for the doctors to get a better idea. Knowing about the previous tendencies and experiences might help you control the episodes and aggression.
A clear and consistent routine can help you improve your child's mental health. They will be able to follow a healthy timetable for their daily duties and maintain a healthy sleep routine. This will help them keep their physical health in check, which will gradually reflect in their mental health.
Adults usually deal with stress more often than kids. Hence, if your kids are suffering from stress due to mental health issues, you can help them by providing stress management tips. Here, relaxation techniques like meditation, deep breathing and music therapy can be helpful. Moreover, you can take them out to divert their minds from stressful situations.
Therefore, paediatric bipolar disorder can be a severe mental health condition affecting children and teenagers. While its symptoms are similar to bipolar disorder in adults, the episodes might be mixed and unclear. Therefore, you must identify the symptoms and ensure the proper treatment of your child, as discussed in this article. The tips mentioned here will help you control the symptoms.
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Disclaimer #2: This information is added only for informative purposes and collected from different sources across the Internet. Digit Insurance is not promoting or recommending anything here. Please verify the information before making any decisions.
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