Bipolar Disorder

In Bipolar Disorder (also known as Manic-Depressive illness), cycles of depression alternate with cycles of elation and increased activity known as mania.  Sometimes the mood swings (from depression to mania and/or vice-versa) are dramatic or rapid, but most often they occur gradually, over several weeks.  This illness is more likely to affect children and adolescents whose parents also have the disorder.  Twenty to forty percent of adolescents with Major Depression develop Bipolar Disorder within five years after depression onset.

Existing evidence indicates that Bipolar Disorder beginning in childhood or early adolescence may be a different, possibly more severe form of the illness than older adolescent and adult onset Bipolar Disorder.

When the illness begins before or soon after puberty, it is often characterized by a continuous, rapid-cycling, irritable, and mixed symptom state that may co-occur with disruptive behaviour disorders, particularly Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Conduct Disorder (CD), or may have features of these disorders as initial symptoms.

Symptoms of the Manic Phase

• Severe changes in mood -- either extremely irritable or overly silly and elated.
• Overly inflated self-esteem, grandiosity.
• Increased energy.
• Decreased need for sleep, able to go with very little or no sleep for days without tiring.
• Increased talking (talks too much, too fast), changes topics too quickly, cannot be interrupted.
• Distractibility, constant shifting of attention.
• Hypersexuality, increased sexual thoughts, feelings or pormiscuity, use of explicit sexual language.
• Increased goal-directed activity or physical agitation.
• Disregard of risk-excessive involvement in risky behaviours or activities.

Symptoms of the Depression phase would be similar to those for Unipolar (Major) Depression

The cycles between the depressive and manic states do not happen consistently or with equal intensity and sometimes people with Bipolar Disorder will suffer mixed cycles where symptoms of both mania and depression occur simultaneously.

When Bipolar Disorder develops at puberty (which is common) people will have continuous rapid cycling and can co-occur with and often be confused with ADHD.

Severe cases of manic depression might also include hallucinations and delusions.  If you know someone who is experiencing this, immediate treatment is called for -- these symptoms frequently lead to suicide or attempted suicide.

What will Bipolar Disorder look like in the classroom?

What are the treatments for Bipolar Disorder?

• Cognitive behavioural therapy.

• Mood stabilizing medications.

• Education and psychological counseling for the family.

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