Early diagnosis and treatment can lead to better functioning and well-being over the long term. Some children and teens with bipolar disorder may try to hurt themselves or attempt suicide. Bipolar disorder is often episodic, but it usually lasts a lifetime.īipolar disorder symptoms can make it hard to perform well in school or get along with friends and family members. Children with bipolar disorder sometimes feel very sad or “down” and are much less active than usual. The mood changes in bipolar disorder are more extreme, often unprovoked, and accompanied by changes in sleep, energy level, and the ability to think clearly.Ĭhildren with bipolar disorder sometimes feel very happy or “up” and are much more energetic and active than usual. Although most people are diagnosed with bipolar disorder in adolescence or adulthood, the symptoms can appear earlier in childhood.īipolar disorder is not the same as the typical ups and downs every child goes through. It is a common misperception that children cannot have bipolar disorder. What is bipolar disorder?īipolar disorder (formerly called manic-depressive illness or manic depression) is a mental illness that causes people to experience noticeable, sometimes extreme, changes in mood and behavior.

With treatment, children and teens with bipolar disorder can improve over time. Some children and teens with these symptoms may have bipolar disorder, a mental illness that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and day-to-day functioning. Research Training and Career Development Opportunitiesĭoes your child go through extreme changes in mood and behavior? Does your child get much more excited or much more irritable than other kids? Do you notice that your child goes through cycles of extreme highs and lows in mood and energy levels more often than other children? Do these mood changes affect how your child acts at school or home?.Research Conducted at NIMH (Intramural Research Program).Upcoming Observances and Related Events.Contribute to Mental Health Research Mobile navigation

Phase ten for kids