Bipolar Disorder in Children

Pre adult onset of bipolar disorder is no longer unusual. Whilst it tends to develop in the latter teen years there are cases of bipolar children nowhere near their teens yet.

The dramatic mood swings between mania and depression so characteristic of bipolar also present in childhood bipolar.

Kids displaying extreme mood swings like suddenly suddenly turning very angry or aggressive with little or no provocation being really silly, talking very fast

Most kids require significant hours of sleep and cannot manage while sleep deprived. Bipolar children can function adequately with minimal sleep.

Older children are inclined to take high risks with little regard for consequence like excessive drinking, drug taking, speeding and reckless driving, sexual promiscuity.

In very young kids hypersexuality sometimes triggers the warning bells. An unnatural interest in sexual organs can display as totally unacceptable social interaction e.g. continuously touching inappropriate parts of others.