Bipolar Disorder in Children

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhen to Seek HelpSymptoms to Watch ForDiagnosing Bipolar in Children and TeensTreatment for Childhood BipolarRisks With TeensCo-Morbid ConditionsSupport at SchoolSupport at HomeFinal ThoughtsNext in Bipolar Disorder GuideDoes Bipolar Disorder Qualify You for Disability?

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

When to Seek Help

Symptoms to Watch For

Diagnosing Bipolar in Children and Teens

Treatment for Childhood Bipolar

Risks With Teens

Co-Morbid Conditions

Support at School

Support at Home

Final Thoughts

Next in Bipolar Disorder Guide

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Up to 65% of adults with bipolar disorder experiencedsymptomsprior to the age of 18. So, while the condition is often associated with adults, kids of any age can have bipolar disorder.

Childhood-onset bipolar is associated with a more severe course of illness compared to people who don’t begin to experience symptoms until adulthood. Early intervention can be the key to getting symptoms under control.

Even if you know an adult with bipolar disorder—or you have been diagnosed with it yourself—it might not look the same in a teenager.

Teens tend to be more irritable than elated during manic episodes, and their depressive episodes may involve more complaints of physical symptoms other than sadness.

1:47Watch Now: Understanding Bipolar Disorder Triggers

1:47

Watch Now: Understanding Bipolar Disorder Triggers

Children and adolescents with bipolar disorder experience severe mood and behavior changes that are extreme and represent a major change from their typical mood and behavior. It might be difficult to know when the symptoms are severe enough to warrant evaluation and, potentially, diagnosis, so consider these three basic factors: functioning, feeling, and family.

Functioning

Here are some questions to ask yourself about your child’s functioning:

Feeling

Here are some questions to ask yourself about your child’s feelings:

Family

Is there a history of mental illness in your child’s family?

Research indicates that having a parent or sibling who has bipolar disorderincreases your child’s chances of developing it. However, just because there is a family history of bipolar disorder does not mean your child will necessarily develop the condition.

If you’ve said “yes” to questions in at least two of the three items above (functioning, feeling, and family), you’re probably curious about the specific symptoms of bipolar disorder. Experts disagree about the exact symptoms that may appear in childhood and adolescent bipolar disorder because they appear to manifest differently than the symptoms of adults, but some of these symptoms may include:

Many of these symptoms are not specific to bipolar disorder and can reflect a variety of other concerns in children.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you think your child may have bipolar disorder (or any other mental health issue), talk to their physician. Schedule an appointment to discuss your concerns.

A physician may refer you to a mental health treatment provider for a complete evaluation. A mental health expert will likely want to interview you and your child to get a full picture of the history and current presentation of signs and symptoms.

Unfortunately, there is no simple lab test that identifies bipolar disorder.

Sometimes, other conditions, such as depression or ADHD, have similar presentations, so it’s important to offer as much information as you can about your child’s mood, sleep patterns, energy level, appetite, puberty/menstrual cycle, behavior problems, and medical history to help rule out other possibilities.

Types of Childhood Mood Disorders

Bipolar disorder is a lifelong disorder and must be managed throughout a person’s life.Treatmentmay require adjustments over time as their brain continues to develop, and fluctuations in hormones and life experiences may exacerbate symptoms.

Your child’s treatment team may recommend the following:

A therapist or psychiatrist may request that you log your child’s moods, sleep patterns, or behavior. Charting your child’s progress can help treatment providers determine how well therapy or medications are working to keep your child’s moods stable.

Treatment works best when the child, parents, doctors, therapists, and other treatment providers work together as a team. So, it’s important to attend your child’s appointments, ask questions, communicate with other treatment providers, and continue to educate yourself about your child’s mental health needs.

Online Therapy Services for Kids and Families, Tried and Tested

Teens are already prone torisky behavior, but that risk is multiplied when the teenager also has bipolar disorder. Keep an eye out for substance abuse, such as drinking or taking drugs, as well assuicidal behavior.

The risk for suicide in people with bipolar disorder is among the highest for all psychiatric disorders.

One study showed that between 25% and 60% of adults with bipolar make at least one suicide attempt over the course of their lives,and between 5% to 6% of individuals with bipolar disorder die from suicide.

If your teen has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, take the risk of suicide seriously. Work with your teen’s treatment providers to assess your teen’s risks and to develop a safety plan.

Many children with bipolar disorder have an additional mental illness, addiction, or behavior disorder. Some research has estimated that between 60% to 90% of youth with bipolar disorder may haveattention deficit hyperactivity disorderas well.

Anxiety disorders, substance use, and disruptive behavior disorders are among the other most common issues children with bipolar disorder may experience.

It’s important to work with your child’s school if they’ve been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. School officials can assist with a plan that best supports your child’s education, and they may qualify for aSection 504 planor an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Your child’s academic needs will depend on their symptoms and subsequent academic and behavioral issues.

If they struggle academically, the school may provide services to help ensure they get a solid education. For example, the school may be able to offer a modified schedule or a hall pass that lets your child visit the guidance counselor whenever necessary.

If they exhibit behavior problems at school, the teachers may create a behavior plan that will help themregulate their emotionsand take appropriate disciplinary action as needed for conduct problems.

Your Child is Part of the TeamEncourage your child to participate in meetings to discuss how they feel the school could support their education as well.

Your Child is Part of the Team

Encourage your child to participate in meetings to discuss how they feel the school could support their education as well.

Bipolar disorder affects the entire family so it’s important to work together to help your child manage the symptoms.

Learn as much as you can about bipolar disorder and the latest treatment options—and make sure other family members learn about it, too. It’s important for siblings to understand what to expect.

Hold regular conversations with your child about treatment and treatment-related issues. There’s a good chance that, at some point, your child won’t want to take medication, especially if there are side effects or blood work is required. They may also want to stop going to therapy.Validate their feelingsand talk about the importance of following doctors’ recommendations. Be open to discussing their options with them.

It’s essential to take care of yourself as well. Coping with the challenges of raising a child with bipolar disorder can be stressful. Consider joining asupport group for parentswith kids with bipolar disorder (or mental illness in general). Connecting with other parents may help you gain emotional support and practical advice about how to best support your child.

It is common for children to experience some of the symptoms listed above, and it doesn’t necessarily mean they have bipolar disorder.

Does Bipolar Disorder Qualify You for Disability?

9 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Mental Health.Bipolar disorder in children and teens.Washburn JJ, West AE, Heil JA.Treatment of pediatric bipolar disorder: A review.Minerva Psichiatr. 2011;52(1):21-35.National Alliance on Mental Illness.Bipolar disorder.Goldstein TR.Suicidality in pediatric bipolar disorder.Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2009;18(2):339-352. doi:10.1016/j.chc.2008.11.005Novick DM, Swartz HA, Frank E.Suicide attempts in bipolar I and bipolar II disorder: A review and meta-analysis of the evidence.Bipolar Disord. 2010;12(1):1-9. doi:10.1111/j.1399-5618.2009.00786.xAmerican Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR); 2022. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787Goldstein TR, Ha W, Axelson DA, et al.Predictors of prospectively examined suicide attempts among youth with bipolar disorder.Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2012;69(11). doi:10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2012.650Children and Adults With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD).Pediatric bipolar disorder.Joshi G, Wilens T.Comorbidity in pediatric bipolar disorder.Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2009;18(2):291-319. doi:10.1016/j.chc.2008.12.005

9 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Mental Health.Bipolar disorder in children and teens.Washburn JJ, West AE, Heil JA.Treatment of pediatric bipolar disorder: A review.Minerva Psichiatr. 2011;52(1):21-35.National Alliance on Mental Illness.Bipolar disorder.Goldstein TR.Suicidality in pediatric bipolar disorder.Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2009;18(2):339-352. doi:10.1016/j.chc.2008.11.005Novick DM, Swartz HA, Frank E.Suicide attempts in bipolar I and bipolar II disorder: A review and meta-analysis of the evidence.Bipolar Disord. 2010;12(1):1-9. doi:10.1111/j.1399-5618.2009.00786.xAmerican Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR); 2022. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787Goldstein TR, Ha W, Axelson DA, et al.Predictors of prospectively examined suicide attempts among youth with bipolar disorder.Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2012;69(11). doi:10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2012.650Children and Adults With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD).Pediatric bipolar disorder.Joshi G, Wilens T.Comorbidity in pediatric bipolar disorder.Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2009;18(2):291-319. doi:10.1016/j.chc.2008.12.005

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

National Institute of Mental Health.Bipolar disorder in children and teens.Washburn JJ, West AE, Heil JA.Treatment of pediatric bipolar disorder: A review.Minerva Psichiatr. 2011;52(1):21-35.National Alliance on Mental Illness.Bipolar disorder.Goldstein TR.Suicidality in pediatric bipolar disorder.Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2009;18(2):339-352. doi:10.1016/j.chc.2008.11.005Novick DM, Swartz HA, Frank E.Suicide attempts in bipolar I and bipolar II disorder: A review and meta-analysis of the evidence.Bipolar Disord. 2010;12(1):1-9. doi:10.1111/j.1399-5618.2009.00786.xAmerican Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR); 2022. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787Goldstein TR, Ha W, Axelson DA, et al.Predictors of prospectively examined suicide attempts among youth with bipolar disorder.Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2012;69(11). doi:10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2012.650Children and Adults With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD).Pediatric bipolar disorder.Joshi G, Wilens T.Comorbidity in pediatric bipolar disorder.Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2009;18(2):291-319. doi:10.1016/j.chc.2008.12.005

National Institute of Mental Health.Bipolar disorder in children and teens.

Washburn JJ, West AE, Heil JA.Treatment of pediatric bipolar disorder: A review.Minerva Psichiatr. 2011;52(1):21-35.

National Alliance on Mental Illness.Bipolar disorder.

Goldstein TR.Suicidality in pediatric bipolar disorder.Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2009;18(2):339-352. doi:10.1016/j.chc.2008.11.005

Novick DM, Swartz HA, Frank E.Suicide attempts in bipolar I and bipolar II disorder: A review and meta-analysis of the evidence.Bipolar Disord. 2010;12(1):1-9. doi:10.1111/j.1399-5618.2009.00786.x

American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR); 2022. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787

Goldstein TR, Ha W, Axelson DA, et al.Predictors of prospectively examined suicide attempts among youth with bipolar disorder.Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2012;69(11). doi:10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2012.650

Children and Adults With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD).Pediatric bipolar disorder.

Joshi G, Wilens T.Comorbidity in pediatric bipolar disorder.Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2009;18(2):291-319. doi:10.1016/j.chc.2008.12.005

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