Bipolar disorder is a serious yet treatable illness. It is one of the very many mental disorders that is quite common nowadays. It can greatly affect a person's vocational and social development since the disorder can significantly cause a change in a person's behavior due to the serious psychological symptoms. In America alone, there are more than 2 million people who are living with the case of a bipolar disorder, so there is really no denying its presence. It can occur in childhood but the peak years are during late adolescence and early adulthood.
Bipolar Children
The diagnosis of bipolar in children is considered controversial and very rare. According to some studies, the onset of the disorder prior to the age of ten can be estimated to about 0.3% to 0.5% of the people affected with bipolar disorder. Some case reviews even suggest a prevalence rate that is higher than this figure. The number of bipolar kids has increased 40-fold from the year 1994 to the year 2003 and is currently continuing to increase in rate. Recent studies suggest that bipolar can strike as early as the age of seven years old and is now a more common case compared to the cases handled in the past.
Bipolar in Young People
The peak years for bipolar is during late adolescence and early adulthood. When people experience bipolar during this time of their lives, it can severely disrupt them because this is usually during the critical stage of their lives. This is the period where the development of vocational and social aspects of a young adults life is most important. About 2.6 percent of people who age 18 years and older suffer from bipolar illness in any given year.
The symptoms of bipolar are different in adults than in children, which presents a diagnostic challenge to the professionals in the field of mental health. Bipolar in adults have predictable patterns of symptoms, unlike in bipolar disorder children that very often exhibit explosive outburst and irritable moods. Also, bipolar kids may experience the cycles of manic-depressive far more rapidly compared to adult cases.
Bipolar in children is most of the time overlooked because some of the symptoms are close to those of mental disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD. It has even been recorded that bipolar can even co-exist with ADHD.
In adults, bipolar is often not recognized as an illness because it can mask the symptoms of postpartum psychosis, postpartum depression, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and substance abuse. Bipolar must be carefully managed throughout the life of the person since it is a long-term disorder.
It is important to have some knowledge of bipolar disorder because of the possible cases that may cause bipolar to be overlooked. This is really serious because bipolar has even lead many to committing suicide. Bipolar disorder has a good prognosis and can easily be treated if done early and with proper management. - 15255
Bipolar Children
The diagnosis of bipolar in children is considered controversial and very rare. According to some studies, the onset of the disorder prior to the age of ten can be estimated to about 0.3% to 0.5% of the people affected with bipolar disorder. Some case reviews even suggest a prevalence rate that is higher than this figure. The number of bipolar kids has increased 40-fold from the year 1994 to the year 2003 and is currently continuing to increase in rate. Recent studies suggest that bipolar can strike as early as the age of seven years old and is now a more common case compared to the cases handled in the past.
Bipolar in Young People
The peak years for bipolar is during late adolescence and early adulthood. When people experience bipolar during this time of their lives, it can severely disrupt them because this is usually during the critical stage of their lives. This is the period where the development of vocational and social aspects of a young adults life is most important. About 2.6 percent of people who age 18 years and older suffer from bipolar illness in any given year.
The symptoms of bipolar are different in adults than in children, which presents a diagnostic challenge to the professionals in the field of mental health. Bipolar in adults have predictable patterns of symptoms, unlike in bipolar disorder children that very often exhibit explosive outburst and irritable moods. Also, bipolar kids may experience the cycles of manic-depressive far more rapidly compared to adult cases.
Bipolar in children is most of the time overlooked because some of the symptoms are close to those of mental disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD. It has even been recorded that bipolar can even co-exist with ADHD.
In adults, bipolar is often not recognized as an illness because it can mask the symptoms of postpartum psychosis, postpartum depression, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and substance abuse. Bipolar must be carefully managed throughout the life of the person since it is a long-term disorder.
It is important to have some knowledge of bipolar disorder because of the possible cases that may cause bipolar to be overlooked. This is really serious because bipolar has even lead many to committing suicide. Bipolar disorder has a good prognosis and can easily be treated if done early and with proper management. - 15255
About the Author:
Ken P Doyle has had a good deal of knowledge in the studies of Bipolar Disorder. For more information and resources on the Symptoms of Bipolar and Bipolar in Children, check out his online site now.
