Bipolar Disorder Diagnosis

In order to understand bipolar disorder diagnosis in children it helps to understand how we define it in adults. Some of the difficulty in diagnosis of bipolar in children with these adult criteria is that the time frames are not applicable, children’s episodes may last minutes and hours instead of days. Depression and mania also look somewhat different in children .

This page will explain some of the basic information necessary for understanding the diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Below are several links to other pages of interest about bipolar disorder.

More Links About Adult Bipolar

Click here to learn more about cognitive therapy.

Wondering about the different types of bipolar disorder? Click here

Questions about bipolar disorder and drug or alcohol use? Click here

Are you struggling with understanding bipolar disorder in a loved one? Click here

Are you struggling with understanding bipolar disorder in a family member? Click here

Interested the link between bipolar disorder and creativity ? Click here

Are you wondering about memory loss during rages or in general? Click here

Episodes

There are several kinds of bipolar mood disorders described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM), the book used to make a bipolar disorder diagnosis. Each different bipolar disorder diagnosis is distinguished by episodes. Below are some of the definitions we need to understand to differentiate between different types of bipolar disorder ( Bipolar I, II, NOS, and Cyclothymia.)

Major Depressive Episode

All of these symptoms must occur most of every day for two weeks.

Symptoms

Either a depressed mood (in children this can be irritability)

or

No pleasure or interest in previously enjoyed activities or any activities

and

4 of the other symptoms below:

• Weight loss or gain or decrease increase in appetite
• Not sleeping or sleeping too much
• Feeling restless or slowed down
• Fatigue or loss of energy
• Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt
• Impaired concentration or difficulty making decisions
• Recurrent thoughts of death , thinking of suicide with or without a plan or a suicide attempt

Manic Episode

Symptoms are present to a significant degree for a week.

This mood state must cause some kind of an impairment in functioning, a hospitalization or be accompanied by psychosis.

3 or more of the symptoms below accompany a week of elevated or expansive mood

Or

4 or more symptoms accompany and irritable mood

Symptoms

• inflated self-esteem or grandiosity
• decreased need for sleep
• more talkative than usual or pressure to keep talking
• flight of ideas or racing thoughts
• easily distracted
• increase in goal-directed activity
• psycho-motor agitation
• excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that have a high potential for painful consequences (gambling spending money sexual activity)

Mixed Episode

All the symptoms are met both for a Manic Episode and for a Major Depressive Episode nearly every day for a week.

The mood disturbance is sufficiently severe to cause impairment in functioning,

or

there is psychosis

or

hospitalization is necessary

Hypo manic Episode

At least 4 days of period of elevated, expansive, or irritable mood, which meet the criteria of mania except that the episode is not severe enough to cause marked impairment in social or occupational functioning, or to necessitate hospitalization, and there are no psychotic features.

Symptoms Must Cause Impairment

In addition to these symptoms existing, to make a bipolar disorder diagnosis they must also cause impairment in an area of a person’s functioning (i.e. work or social). A person who is having these symptoms but moving along just fine in life would not qualify as having an episode.

Can’t be Caused by a Medical Condition or Drug Use

These symptoms also cannot be related to a medical condition or due to drug abuse or medication. I have seen people receive a bipolar disorder diagnosis, when in fact, they had a medical disorder. Certain medical disorders can mimic the appearance of bipolar disorder as can certain drugs. For example, someone who is on crack may appear manic, but they are not manic, they are high on crack.

Definitions

Flight of ideas- rapid speech during which the person speaker rapidly switches from topic to topic

Grandiosity-feeling you are more powerful intelligent or important than you are.

Psycho- motor agitation pacing moving around being physically agitated

Psycho- motor retardation- slowed physical movements, snail like

Psychotic features- disconnected from realty hallucinations

Elevated or expansive mood- feeling high euphoric or elated

Medical Disclaimer

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Medical information obtained from our website is not intended as a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you have a problem, you should consult a healthcare provider.