Early Signs of Bipolar Disorder...
Wilens et al. (2004) compared 44 preschoolers and 29 consecutively ascertained school-aged children with bipolar disorder. They found that the preschool-aged children had similar rates of comorbid psychopathology when they were compared to the school-aged children. Both groups of children diagnosed with bipolar disorder manifested symptoms of mania and major depression simultaneously (mixed states). The children showed substantial problems in school as well as in social and overall functioning.
A recent study by Faedda et al.(2004) underscores the need for more education to understand the early signs of pediatric bipolar disorder. Studying 82 children (aged 10.6 ± 3.6 years) diagnosed with bipolar disorder, in 74% psychopathology was recognized before age 3 in the form of sleep disturbances, hyperactivity, aggression, and anxiety. Although the mean age of boys evidencing their first symptoms was 3.2 years (S.D.=3.5) and the girls at 2.2 (S.D.= 3.8), the former were not treated until they were over six years and the girls not until seven years. Boys were first diagnosed with bipolar disorder at 9.2 years (S.D.= 3.4) and girls received the diagnosis at 10.4 years (S.D.= 3.7). This reflects years of confusion and family turmoil associated with misdiagnoses and often mistreatment.
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