Bipolar in Children
Though the diagnosis of bipolar in children is considered controversial and rare, according to studies it is estimated that 0.3% to 0.5% of children under the age of ten are affected with bipolar. However, some argue this finding. There has been an increase of over 40-fold from the year 1994 to the year 2003 and it still continues to rise. Other recent studies also suggest that bipolar can strike as early as the age of seven years old .A staggering number compared to previous years.
Bipolar in Adolescents and Adults
The peak years of the onset of most bipolar illnesses are during late adolescence and early adulthood. People who are experiencing bipolar during this time of their lives can be severely disrupted since these are the critical periods in the development of vocational and social aspects of a young adult's life. In any given year, about 2.6 percent of people who age 18 years and older suffer from bipolar illness.
In contrast to children, there is a slight difference in the symptoms of bipolar for both. For the professionals in the field of mental health, this presents a diagnostic challenge for them. When children have bipolar, they often exhibit explosive outbursts and irritable moods that are different to the predictable patterns and nature of bipolar symptoms. Kids with bipolar disorder also experience the cycles of manic depression far more rapidly compared to adult cases.
Bipolar in children is most of the time overlooked because some of the symptoms are close to those of mental disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD. It has even been recorded that bipolar can even co-exist with ADHD.
In the case of bipolar in adults, many times it is not recognized as an illness because it is usually mistaken for other symptoms of postpartum psychosis, postpartum depression, premenstrual dysphoric disorder and substance abuse. Throughout the life of a person, it should be carefully managed because it is a long term disorder.
Having some knowledge on bipolar is important because of the possible cases that may cause bipolar to be overlooked. It is a fact that bipolar has led numerous people to commit suicide. It can be treated if done in at the right time and with proper management.
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