Bipolar disorder (also known as manic-depression) is a serious but treatable medical illness. It is a disorder of the brain marked by extreme changes in mood, energy, and behavior. Symptoms may be present since infancy or early childhood, or may suddenly emerge in adolescence or adulthood. Until recently, a diagnosis of the disorder was rarely made in childhood. Doctors can now recognize and treat bipolar disorder in young children.
Early intervention and treatment offer the best chance for children with emerging bipolar disorder to achieve stability, gain the best possible level of wellness, and grow up to enjoy their gifts and build upon their strengths. Proper treatment can minimize the adverse effects of the illness on their lives and the lives of those who love them.
Families of affected children and adolescents are almost always baffled by early-onset bipolar disorder and are desperate for information and support. In this section of the CABF web site, you will find answers to some of the most common questions asked about the disorder.
Please see full article at (click on) "About early-onset bipolar disorder" Also in Espanol.
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Insurance Parity Laws by State
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Legislative Alerts
Anxiety Disorders Association of America
The Bipolar Child Web site of authors Demitri Papolos, M.D. and Janice Papolos, author of best-selling book, The Bipolar Child (Broadway Books, 1999). Offers excellent newsletter with archived articles of interest to families.
BPSO (support and information for Significant Others of those who have Bipolar Disorder)
The Center for Mental Health Services' Knowledge
Exchange Network (KEN)
A comprehensive mental health site from the U.S. government with a wealth of free publications and resources on bipolar disorder and related issues like stigma, depression, anxiety, and other childhood brain disorders.
National Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association (National DMDA)
National Institute of Mental Health Child/Adolescent Resources
The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) is a nonprofit, grassroots, self-help, support and advocacy organization of consumers, families, and friends of people with severe mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and anxiety disorders.