Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder in which individuals demonstrate changing mood symptoms, which include the presence of elevated mood, or mania, and depression. The National Institute of Mental Health indicates that children with the disorder often oscillate between moods more often and experience more intense symptoms than adults. While no statistics on the prevalence of bipolar disorder in children are currently available, the National Institute of Mental Health reports that 2.6 percent of adults 18 and older have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
Genetics
In "Introduction to Child and Adolescent Psychology," Robert Weis discusses the importance of genetics in the development of bipolar disorder in children. Children whose parents have the disorder are at increased risk for a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, individuals who have parents or siblings with bipolar disorder may be between four and six times more likely to be diagnosed; however, having a family history of the disorder does not guarantee a diagnosis. While genes have been implicated in the development of the disorder, the National Institute of Mental Health reports that they play only a partial role.
The Brain
Weis discusses research findings that children with bipolar disorder have smaller brains than those who do not have the disorder, which suggests differences in brain development. Abnormal development of certain brain structures in the limbic system is found in people with bipolar disorder. The limbic system, which includes the hippocampus, amygdala, cingulate gyrus and thalamus, plays a role in the control and processing of emotion. As reported by Weis, children with bipolar disorder have smaller limbic system regions of the brain. Additionally, increased activity in these brain areas may be related to the symptoms of bipolar disorder. Similarly, Weis reports that limited activity in the prefrontal cortex, which helps control behavior and planning, occurs in children with the disorder. As Weis describes, children with bipolar disorder may have differences in the structure and activity of brain regions related to the processing of emotion.
Environmental Risks
Weis indicates several environmental events that can activate the symptoms of bipolar disorder. Changes in sleep patterns in children may activate symptoms of mania in teens with the disorder. Weis suggests that changes in routine and disrupted sleep may impact the ability to control mood. Other events that may activate symptoms include difficult relationships between parents and children, traumatic events such as death, and high levels of stress.
References
- "Introduction to Abnormal Child and Adolescent Psychology"; Robert Weis; 2008
- National Institute of Mental Health: What Are the Risk Factors for Bipolar Disorder?
- National Institute of Mental Health: The Numbers Count: Mental Disorders in America
- National Institute of Mental Health: Bipolar Disorder in Children and Teens
