Demitri Papolos

Bipolar disorder-manic depression-was once thought to be rare in children. Now researchers are discovering not only that bipolar disorder can begin early in life, but that it is much more common than ever imagined. Yet the illness is often misdiagnosed and mistreated with medications that can exacerbate the symptoms. Why? Bipolar disorder manifests itself differently in children than in adults, and in children there is an overlap of symptoms with other childhood psychiatric disorders. As a result, these kids may be labeled with any of a number of psychiatric conditions: "ADHD," "depression," "oppositional defiant disorder," "obsessive-compulsive disorder," or "generalized anxiety disorder." Too often they are treated with stimulants or antidepressants-medications that can actually worsen the bipolar condition. The Bipolar Child has helped many thousands of families get to the root cause of their children's behaviors and symptoms and find what they need to know. The Papoloses comprehensively detail the diagnosis, explain how to find good treatment and medications, and advise parents about ways to advocate effectively for their children in school. Selected Reading Questionnaire.… (mais)

As a resource guide, this book stands as a standard for bipolar disorder among children. For anyone who is struggling with a child who is truly ill, the book offers hope and can guide the parent through the unfamiliar territory of mental health care. There are sections on how a child is diagnosed and treated, how the brain works, how cope with the disorder at home and school (including some basic information about obtaining an IEP for your child), what to expect from hospitalization, and even a bit about health insurance.… (mais)