Last reviewed:
Jul 28th 2023
M.A., LPCC
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition in which a person experiences cycles of mania and depression. While this condition typically doesn’t appear until young adulthood, in some cases it may occur in children and teens [1].
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that causes shifts in mood and energy levels. Individuals with this psychiatric disorder experience mood episodes called mania and depression, both of which are more dramatic than the normal “ups and downs” of daily life that people typically experience [1].
When a person has bipolar disorder, they cycle between mania and depression. Sometimes, they may go years without any extreme mood swings or symptoms, but they may also have preiods of time when they have distinct episodes of mania or depression, or when they rapidly cycle between mood states [1].
The symptoms of bipolar disorder in children and teens depend upon which type of mood episode the child is experiencing at the time. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), lists diagnostic criteria and symptoms of mental health conditions, including bipolar disorder. Bipolar symptoms in children and teens align with those seen in the DSM-5, but there may be some nuances, given that symptoms may present differently in younger people [2].
A child or teen experiencing a manic episode will show some or many of the following symptoms [3]:
On the other hand, a depressive episode of bipolar disorder involves the following symptoms [3]:
It’s important to keep in mind that for an accurate diagnosis of bipolar disorder in a child or teen, the mood episodes must represent a significant change from their normal behavior. For instance, it’s not unusual for children to present as “giddy” or “goofy,” which may be mistaken for elated or grandiose behavior. In a child with bipolar disorder, mood changes are extreme and noticeable enough that they reflect a change from the child’s usual pattern of behavior [2].
There is not one single cause of bipolar disorder in children and teens. Rather, a combination of risk factors likely contributes to the development of this condition during the childhood and adolescent years. However, what is known from research is that genetics seem to play a greater role in the development of child and teen bipolar disorder, when compared to cases of bipolar disorder with a later onset [4].
Beyond genetics, the following factors increase the risk of bipolar disorder [1]:
Children and teens with bipolar disorder are typically treated with some combination of medication and psychosocial services, including therapy and parent education. These are discussed in more detail below [5]:
If your child lives with bipolar disorder, there are things you can do as a parent to help them manage their condition. Consider the following tips:
Bipolar disorder is commonly believed to affect people beginning in early adulthood, but researchers and mental health experts have found that this condition can affect children and teens as well. The National Alliance on Mental Illness has reported an average age of onset of around 25 years for bipolar disorder [1].
However, research conducted with patients with bipolar disorder in several countries across the globe has revealed an earlier age of onset in some populations. In fact, it appears that there are three forms of bipolar disorder: early onset, middle onset, and late onset. Among individuals with early onset bipolar disorder, the average age of onset is 17.3 years, which suggests that it is possible for bipolar disorder to develop earlier in life [6].
Bipolar disorder was once thought to be extremely uncommon in youth, but recent research has shown that prevalence rates in children and teens are growing. Research with teens shows a lifetime prevalence rate of 2.5% for adolescents [7]. Rates of bipolar disorder in younger children, prior to the teen years, are more difficult to determine.
Different studies have shown varying prevalence rates, and many studies do not detect bipolar disorder prior to adolescence. Nonetheless, research in the United States with children ages 5 to 9 has found a prevalence rate of 27 cases per 100,000 children. While this rate is higher than that found in other countries, the fact remains that bipolar disorder is uncommon, albeit not nonexistent, in young children [8].
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