Until recently, bipolar disorders were almost never diagnosed in children and rarely recognized in adolescents. Psychiatrists now recognize that manic depression has frequently been misdiagnosed as ADHD (or oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, or depression). According to recent data, 23 percent of children currently diagnosed with ADHD will eventually be diagnosed as having a bipolar disorder. Families and communities pay a heavy toll when this disorder is not recognized and treated. Suicide is a possible outcome, as are school failure, limited job prospects, legal difficulties, and hospitalizations. Understanding and recognizing the differences in the illness for children and adolescents is key for concerned parents and professionals. Bipolar Disorders covers the range of topics that parents need to know about in order to help their children.
