BIPOLAR DISORDER IN CHILD AND ADOLESENT

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Introduction:
Many children and especially adolescence experience mood swings as a normal
part of growing up. But when these feelings persist and begin to interfere with a childs
ability to function in a daily life, bipolar disorder could be the cause. Bipolar disorder
formerly known as the manic - depression, is a type of mood disorder marked by
extreme changes in mood, energy levels, and behavior. Unlike the normal ups and
downs of mood bipolar disorder significantly impairs functioning in school with their
peers and at home.
Definition:
Bipolar disorder is also known as manic depressive illness, is a brain disorder
that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, and activity levels. It can also make it hard
to carry out day-to-day task, such as going to school or hanging out with friends.
Symptoms of bipolar disorder can be severe. They are different from the normal ups
and downs that everyone goes through from time to time. Bipolar disorder symptoms
can result in damaged relationships, poor school performance, and even suicide. But
bipolar disorder can be treated, and many people with illness can lead full and
productive lives. Symptoms of bipolar disorder often develop in the late teens or early
adult years, but some people have their first symptoms during childhood. At least half of
all cases start before age 25. Bipolar disorder tends to run in families. Children with a
parent or sibling who has bipolar disorder are up to six times more likely to develop the
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illness, compare with children who do not have a family history of bipolar disorder. But
then, most of the children with a family history of bipolar disorder will not develop the
illness. Youth with bipolar disorder experience unusually intense emotional that occurs
in distinct periods called mood episodes.
The extreme high and lows of mood are accompanied by extreme changes in
energy, activity, sleep, and behavior. Bipolar disorder is not the same as the normal ups
and downs of every kid goes through. Bipolar symptoms are more powerful than that.
The illness can make it hard for a child to do well in school or get along with friends and
family members. The illness can also be dangerous. Some young people with bipolar
disorder try to hurt themselves or attempt to suicide.
Bipolar disorder can also develop into other mental illness such as alcoholism,
ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder), anxiety disorders, and major depression
called unipolar disorder. Bipolar can be treated by the use of lithium this will serve as
the antidepressant, Anticonvulsant medication can also treat bipolar disorder although
this medication usually use for people who had seizures, and psychotherapy is one of
the most effective for this will be combined with the different medication that was
prescribe by the doctors. Bipolar disorder is a long term treatment the parents should be
supportive through the process of the treatment for them to know the development of
the child.


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History:
Bipolar disorder is perhaps one of the oldest known illnesses. Research reveals
some mention of the symptoms in early medical records. It was first noticed as far back
at the second century. Arataeus of Cappadocia (a city in ancient Turkey) first recognize
some symptoms of mania and depression, and felt they could be linked to each other.
His findings went unnoticed and unsubstantiated until 1650, when a scientist named
Richard Burton wrote a book, The Anatomy of Melancholia, which focused specifically
on depression. His findings are still used today by many in the mental health field, and
he is credited with being the Father of Depression as mental illness.
Jules Falret coined the term folie circulaire (circular insanity) in 1854, and
established a link between depression and suicide. And his work led to the term bipolar
disorder, as he was able to find a distinction between moments of depression and
heightened moods. He recognizes this to be different from simple depression, and
finally in 1875 his recorded findings were termed Manic-Depressive Psychosis, a
psychiatric disorder. Another lesser-known fact attributed to Falret is that he found the
disease seemed to be found in certain families thus recognizing very early that there
was genetic link. Francois Baillarger believed there was a major distinction between
bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. He characterized the depressive phase of the
disease. It was this achievement that allowed bipolar disorder to receive its own
classification from other mental disorder of the time. In 1935, Emil Krapelin established
the term manic-depressive with an exhaustive study surrounding the effects of
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depression and a small portion about the manic state. Within fifteen years, this
approach to mental illness was fully accepted and became the prevailing theory of the
early 1930s.
In 1952, an article appeared in The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disorder,
analyzing genetics behind the disorder, and revealing the likelihood that manic
depression ran in families already stricken with the disorder. Throughout much of the
1960s many with the disorder were institutionalized and give little help financially
because Congress refusal to recognize manic depression as legitimate illness. Only in
the early 1970s were laws enacted and standard s established to help those afflicted,
and in 1979 the National Association of Mental Health (NAMI) was founded. In 1980 the
term bipolar disorder is replaced manic-depressive disorder as a diagnostic term found
in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association. During
the 1980s research finally was able to distinguish between adult and childhood bipolar
disorder, and even today more studies needed to find the probable causes and possible
methods to treat the illness.
Useful of this Research to Education:
Reading this report will help us to understand and become more open about kind
of disorder which we can encounter in our future class. This will allow us to be aware on
what bipolar disorder is all about and we can at least prepare our reactions when this
disorder occurs. This will also help us to fully accept the child or an adult with bipolar
disorder for child or an adult with bipolar disorder cant control their moods, when the
change in their mood starts to occur. We can also measure our own limitation for we
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cant rescue a child or an adult with bipolar disorder or even can force us to take the
responsibilities for them to feel better but the only thing we can do is to offer them
support but still recovery is in the hands of the person. The nest thing is that, knowing a
child or an adult has a bipolar disorder we can reduce their stress for stress makes
bipolar disorder worse, allowing our self to understand this disorder we can find ways to
lessen their stress through this we can establish and reinforce a daily routine for them.
Within this we can be have an open and honest communication with them for this is an
essential process for them to cope with bipolar disorder in the class or in their
environment and we can share our concern to them in a loving and professional way.
References:
http://www.helpguide.org/mental/bipolar_disorder_family_friends_support.htm
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder-in-children-and-
teens-easy-to-read/index.shtml
http://caregiver.com/channels/bipolar/articles/brief_history2.htm
http://www.whelehans.ie/ailments/Bipolar%20Disorder.pdf
http://bbrfoundation.org/userFiles/facts.bpdchildren.pdf
http://bipolar_chidren_adolescence_cl508.pdf