Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder in Children

Bipolar disorder is being diagnosed with increasing frequency in children. Some psychiatrists claim that the symptoms of early onset in children differ from the symptoms in adults. But other medical experts hesitate to acknowledge a diagnosis of bipolar disorder in children. And both sides worry about the unintended consequences of medication on children with an improper diagnosis.
By Sara Solovitch

Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder in Children May Include:

  • Explosive and destructive rages lasting up to several hours
  • Marked irritability
  • Oppositional behavior
  • Rapid cycling or frequent mood swings, sometimes occurring within an hour
  • Separation anxiety
  • Impulsivity
  • Depression
  • Hyperactivity, agitation, and distractibility
  • Lethargy
  • Bedwetting and night terrors
  • Strong and frequent cravings, often for carbohydrates and sweets
  • Risk-taking behaviors
  • Society anxiety
  • Oversensitivity to emotional or environmental triggers
  • Delusions and hallucinations
  • Grandiosity (belief in ability to fly, for example)

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