Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, can be diagnosed and treated in children, adolescents and adults and is characterized by emotional highs and lows. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, diagnosing a child with bipolar disorder is complex and takes a considerable amount of observation. Boys who have parents who have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder are more likely to suffer from the disorder, because there is a genetic link.
Mood
A boy struggling with bipolar disorder would have intense high and low mood swings. He would have periods of depression where he was sad or irritable for at least two weeks and manic episodes in which he was incredibly silly and happy or irritable. Girls are more likely to express depression with sadness and boys are more likely to express depression with irritability that appear like sever temper tantrums. You may not notice your son is depressed, because the symptoms are different from what you've come to expect. Children have a hard time verbalizing their emotions so parents and teachers must notice nonverbal signs.
Lack of Pleasure
When the boy is depressed the activities that usually made him happy will no longer be a source of pleasure. If he normally enjoys playing baseball with his neighbors after school and video games on the weekends and suddenly stops both of these activities, he could be depressed.
Eating and Sleeping
When a boy is experiencing a depressive episode, he may gain or lose a substantial amount of weight due to overeating or a lack of eating. He may not want to get out of bed in the morning or may be unable to sleep at night. He will probably seem fatigued, fall asleep in class and at the dinner table. During a period of mania, he would probably be able to go a couple days without sleep, seem energetic and not have a need to eat.
Concentration and Activities
Children who are experiencing a depressive or manic phase have a difficult time concentrating. Usually a boy will have racing thoughts and jump from one activity to another. He might spend hours playing with friends, be unusually impatient and seem impulsive. When depressed, he might isolate himself and not be able to complete his school work.
Suicide and Risky Behaviors
A boy suffering from a depressive episode might think about death, ask questions about what it's like to be dead and consider suicide. If you notice any of these symptoms in your child, you should immediately seek treatment by taking your child to the psychiatric emergency room or contacting his therapist. Boys are more likely than girls to engage in risky behaviors when going through a manic episode. He might become more sexually active, experiment with drugs and alcohol and skip school.
