Bipolar disorders are mental illnesses that are generally defined by an individual experiencing cycles of mania and depression. Bipolar disorders are usually associated with adults but can afflict teens and even children. In a manic depressive person the brain functions abnormally causing the sufferer to be unable to control his emotions.
Causes
The cause of bipolar disorder has not been definitively determined but doctors believe the illness has origins in biochemical processes, a person's genes and her environment. In manic depression there may be an imbalance in the brain's neurotransmitters that influences a teenager's (or adult's) moods. As for heredity, it is known that if a family member is bipolar, close relatives have a greater chance of developing the disorder than others. It is also believed that environmental factors such as traumatic events such as death of a loved one or a parent's divorce can predispose an adolescent to bipolar disorder. Even puberty is suspected of being a trigger for an initial manic or depressive episode.
Manic Symptoms
An adolescent experiencing mania may act irrationally silly and very happy, only to quickly develop irritability, become agitated and act out aggressively. A teen in a manic phase may have an exaggerated sense of self, boundless energy, sleep little and talk incessantly. Manic teens are prone to being distracted. They may engage in risky behaviors, including drug and alcohol use, or become sexually promiscuous.
Depression Symptoms
Teenagers in a depressed state of bipolar disorder will often cry, experience great sadness, have suicidal thoughts and lose interest in favorite activities. Depressed adolescents may complain of physical pain and have head or stomach aches. They may stay in bed, report extreme fatigue and claim boredom. There may be abrupt changes in eating patterns. These symptoms are common to teens with bipolar disorder but they are also seen in teens who abuse drugs, have hyperactivity disorders or another type of mental illness so episodes of depression cannot be used solely for a diagnosis.
Diagnosis
Bipolar disorder can be difficult to diagnose and is often not recognized until adult life, even when it begins in adolescence. A psychiatrist or other medical professional must study the individual over a period of time to accurately form a diagnosis. This study will include a full history of the patient given by himself and family members. There are four classified types of the mental illness: Bipolar I or II, Cyclothymic Disorder and Not Otherwise Specified Bipolar Disorder. A physician must identify the type of disorder in order to complete the diagnosis and prescribe a treatment plan. The doctor will understand that adolescents often present differently than adults with bipolar especially in the rapidly of their mood swings.
Episodes
Teenage manic or depressive episodes rarely last longer than a few weeks or months, as opposed to how these moods generally last longer in adult patients. Adolescent episodes are far shorter and may cycle (going from mania to depression and back again) within the span of a day. These episodes are usually erratic. Some teenagers have breaks in the cycling in which they function normally or almost normally.
Treatment
Treatment exists for adolescent bipolar patients. Most can be effectively treated with medications such as lithium or atypical antipsychotics, which help control moods. Psychotherapy is likely to be prescribed along with drug therapy so the child will gain understanding of his illness and can work to improve his self-esteem and the way he handles the stresses of being a teenager. The immediate family of the adolescent will be included in talk therapy and education regarding bipolar disorders.
