Child and Adolescent Bipolar Disorder: An Update from the
National Institute of Mental Health Research findings, clinical
experience, and family accounts provide substantial evidence
that bipolar disorder, also called manic-depressive illness, can
occur in children and adolescents. Bipolar disorder is difficult
to recognize and diagnose in youth, however, because it does not
fit precisely the symptom criteria established for adults, and
because its symptoms can resemble or co-occur with those of
other common childhood-onset mental disorders. In addition,
symptoms of bipolar disorder may be initially mistaken for
normal emotions and behaviors of children and adolescents. But
unlike normal mood changes, bipolar disorder significantly
impairs functioning in school, with peers, and at home with
family. Better understanding of the diagnosis and treatment of
bipolar disorder in youth is urgently needed. In pursuit of this
goal, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is
conducting and supporting research on