CAN BIPOLAR DISORDER START IN INFANTS AS EARLY AS 1 YR.OLD?

Question

CAN AND INFANT GET THIS DISORDER IF THE MOTHER HAS IT, AND WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT?

Answer 1

i would think you have to wait until the child is older so you can properly observe the behaviors. there's really not a lot that can be done a 1, you cannot medicate because you can not administer a proper diagnosis at that age.  

Answer 2

that's a good question for a doctor

Answer 3

I joke that my baby has rapid cycling bipolar disease...but it cannot be diagnosed in an infant so young.

It is a condition that has hereditary risk factors. The child of a mother with bipolar disorder is at greater risk for developing bipolar disorder than a child with no family history. The pediatrician should be aware of the family history so that diagnosis can be made as early as possible and depressive and manic episodes can be managed appropriately.

Answer 4

It is my understanding that it shows up in boys around 20-24 and in girls at 18-22.  I've never heard of a toddler having it.  Yes, they do think that it is partly hereditary, but aren't completely sure.

Answer 5

http://www.biologicalunhappiness.com/BP-...

The presence of mania or hypomania establishes the diagnosis of bipolar, which can begin as an infant. The BPD begins at puberty. AD(H)D appears to be a genetic phenomenon, not a disease, and does begin in early childhood - in fact, those with exclusively the inattention part of AD(H)D may be very "easy" babies.

The similarities are the irritability, the mood instability, and overreacting to stress. There are subtle differences however. Bipolars - especially children - respond badly to being told "no" whereas those with ADHD don’t like excessive stimulation, and borderlines cycle downward to dysphoria (anxiety, rage, depression and despair) under stress - particularly when experiencing fear or anger.

I suspect both the BPD and bipolar are a form of epilepsy (brain cells firing inappropriately and out of control). That’s why anti-epilepsy medications work so well. Bipolar may be epilepsy on top of a normal seasonal up and down pattern that our ancestors needed to survive the severe ice ages tens of thousands of years ago where hibernation in the winter and increased energy in the spring/summer were beneficial. The BPD is epilepsy in the "trapped, cornered, wounded animal" instinct. In the BPD, there are abnormalities in the brain’s "adrenergic and cholinergic systems" which respond to lithium and carbamazepine, abnormalities in the central dopaminergic systems causing psychotic symptoms that respond to low-dose neuroleptics, and abnormalities in the central nervous system serotonergic system underlying impulsive aggressive behaviors that respond to serotonergic agents such as Prozac.

Bipolar needs to be aggressively treated with antiepilepsy medications and antipsychotics prior to treating the other diagnoses, although in adults who also have the BPD I’ll usually treat with an SSRI first for a week prior to adding the antiepilepsy medication Tegretol because of the profound benefits waiting a week prior to initiating Tegretol can bring. Antipsychotics like Risperdal and Seroquel may be necessary early on.

Drs. Papolos' book "The Bipolar Child" is a fantastic book, and a must read for any parent dealing with a bipolar child. My few areas of disagreement include:

    1) that the other diagnoses shouldn’t be treated also - I’m sure they must be and I have successfully treated both together,

    2) that childhood depression should always be considered bipolar - because they’re not. I use the bipolar child symptoms [http://www.biologicalunhappiness.com/BiP... to see if bipolar disorder is present prior to treating depression,

    3) that all mood swing disorders are bipolar - they’re not,

    4) I have found that adolescents and adults who experience dysphoria (anxiety, rage, depression and despair) have the generalized anxiety disorder and this serotonin imbalance needs to be treated with BuSpar so that Prozac and other SSRI’s can be taken without triggering dysphoria,

    5) I suspect both dawn simulators and bright light during the day are necessary, and

    6) that the problem is necessarily due to neurotransmitters - 90% of the cells in the brain are support cells called "glial cells", and I strongly believe research needs to be directed to determine whether glial cell malfunctions could be causing or contributing to bipolar disorder.

Understanding the mind of your bipolar child:

http://books.google.ca/books?id=PzXXN7Ed...

http://www.jbrf.org/cbq/index.html



Request for The Child Bipolar Questionnaire (CBQ)

CBQ

The Juvenile Bipolar Research Foundation is pleased to offer parents, physicians, and other mental health professionals a concise screening inventory developed by JBRF director of research, Demitri Papolos, M.D.

The Child Bipolar Questionnaire (CBQ) is a reliable and sensitive diagnostic indicator for childhood-onset bipolar disorder that is used in current JBRF-sponsored studies. It is also being used in research studies around the world and is available here in Spanish, French, Polish, Portuguese, and Korean.

The Child Bipolar Questionnaire is available free of charge to all. Once completed, the answers to the questions can be printed out and taken to the diagnosing or treating professional.

New service! The JBRF has sponsored the development of an automatic scoring report of the Child Bipolar Questionnaire. Parents and clinicians may create an account with JBRF and purchase this service using PayPal.

The result is a printed score sheet for the questionnaire listing important scores and their indications, as well as dimensions of impairment indicated by item responses. Parents will print this score sheet directly from the website.

Parents, please note: The interview or score sheet should be submitted to the professional evaluating and/or treating the child. Only an experienced diagnostician with a full understanding of the family history, as well as the symptoms and behaviors that the child exhibits, is qualified to make a diagnosis.

Continue >

Answer 6

My son whom is six is diagnosed with a mood disorder thought to be bipolar, but there are alot of different opinions about diagnosing a child this age, and his psychiatrist is just saying "Mood Disorder" to avoid sceptacism.  He has been different from all my other children since he was born.  He used to cry a mad cry instead of a sad one like my other kids did.  He has always gotten overstimulated easily when things are noisy, too crowded, too bright, too cold, or too hot.  He has never liked crowds either.  He did not sleep through the night until he was 4 1/2 years old.  There is a hereditary link with bipolar, so if mom or dad has it baby very well may as well.  Here is some information from one of my favorite websites:

    

Bipolar disorder (also known as manic-depression) is a serious but treatable medical illness. It is a disorder of the brain marked by extreme changes in mood, energy, thinking and behavior. Symptoms may be present since infancy or early childhood, or may suddenly emerge in adolescence or adulthood. Until recently, a diagnosis of the disorder was rarely made in childhood. Doctors can now recognize and treat bipolar disorder in young children.

Early intervention and treatment offer the best chance for children with emerging bipolar disorder to achieve stability, gain the best possible level of wellness, and grow up to enjoy their gifts and build upon their strengths. Proper treatment can minimize the adverse effects of the illness on their lives and the lives of those who love them.

Families of affected children and adolescents are almost always baffled by early-onset bipolar disorder and are desperate for information and support. In this section of the CABF web site, you will find answers to some of the most common questions asked about the disorder.

How common is bipolar disorder in children?

It is not known, because epidemiological studies are lacking. However, bipolar disorder affects an estimated 1-2 percent of adults worldwide. The more we learn about this disorder, the more prevalent it appears to be among children.

It is suspected that a significant number of children diagnosed in the United States with attention-deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADHD) have early-onset bipolar disorder instead of, or along with, ADHD.

Depression in children and teens is usually chronic and relapsing. According to several studies, a significant proportion of the 3.4 million children and adolescents with depression in the United States may actually be experiencing the early onset of bipolar disorder, but have not yet experienced the manic phase of the illness.

What are the symptoms of bipolar disorder in children?

Bipolar disorder involves marked changes in mood and energy. Persistent states of extreme elation or agitation accompanied by high energy are called mania. Persistent states of extreme sadness or irritability accompanied by low energy are called depression.

However, the illness may look different in children than it does in adults. Children usually have an ongoing, continuous mood disturbance that is a mix of mania and depression. This rapid and severe cycling between moods produces chronic irritability and few clear periods of wellness between episodes.

Diagnosis is made using the DSM-IV criteria, for which there is no lower age limit. See section below for DSM-IV criteria. However, it becomes more difficult to apply the DSM-IV criteria to very young children.

Behaviors reported by parents in children diagnosed with bipolar disorder may include:

an expansive or irritable mood

extreme sadness or lack of interest in play

rapidly changing moods lasting a few hours to a few days

explosive, lengthy, and often destructive rages

separation anxiety

defiance of authority

hyperactivity, agitation, and distractibility

sleeping little or, alternatively, sleeping too much

bed wetting and night terrors

strong and frequent cravings, often for carbohydrates and sweets

excessive involvement in multiple projects and activities

impaired judgment, impulsivity, racing thoughts, and pressure to keep talking

dare-devil behaviors (such as jumping out of moving cars or off roofs)

inappropriate or precocious sexual behavior

delusions and hallucinations

grandiose belief in own abilities that defy the laws of logic (ability to fly, for example)

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Symptoms of bipolar disorder can emerge as early as infancy. Mothers often report that children later diagnosed with the disorder were extremely difficult to settle and slept erratically. They seemed extraordinarily clingy, and from a very young age often had uncontrollable, seizure-like tantrums or rages out of proportion to any event. The word "no" often triggered these rages.

Answer 7

another emo kid is born

Answer 8

It would be very hard to diagnose this. Babies get very frustrated because they have lots of emotions but no way to express them so they can seem a little manic.

hope this helps!

Answer 9

an infant won't have bipolar disorder.  but it is hereditary.  

Answer 10

i dont see why not.

Answer 11

Most babies at 1 yr. old appear to be bipolar. lol. They get super fussy when they get tired or hungry, so you assume it's a bipolar disorder; chances are it's a typical 1 yr. old being a typical 1 yr. old =]

Answer 12

Yes, qualified psychologist can make a diagnosis of a child as young as 1 year.  Although it is possible for a child to be diagnosed with Bipolar this young, it is a very rare.

Yes, it is hereditary, but just because one of the parents has it does not mean the child will have it, the child just has a high chance than a child of two parents without the disorder.  

As to what can be done about it, the qualified psychologist who makes the diagnosis should work closely with the child and the parents to help the child learn how to constructively handle the disorder and the help the parents learn how to parent the child with the disorder.  

I must point out that much of the research into children this young with disorders such as this has not been resolved yet - namely there is some argument as to wither or not an early diagnosis actually helps the child in the long run or not.  

Answer 13

Bipolar disorder is something that has to be observed.  Most doctors wont even diagnose bipolar disorders in one session.  It difficult to observe children's behavior until a certain age (I can't remember what age).  I would agree with the first person it's just typical one year old behavior ... just wait til he/she can talk back you're really in for it then.