| Bi-Polar Disorder, or Manic Depression, is | | | | consistently displayed as one might expect from |
| characterized by mood swings, sometimes | | | | an ADHD child, and may be more extreme than |
| extreme, ranging from depressed to normal | | | | one would expect from ADHD. |
| moods, or from depressed to manic episodes. | | | | The big clue is taking a family history and seeing if |
| Manic behaviors are often very similar to | | | | either of the parents, their brothers or sisters, or |
| "hyperactive" behaviors, including motor | | | | their parents, have/had a bi- polar disorder. If so, |
| restlessness, irritability, temper outbursts, sleeping | | | | then this clue will be very helpful in making a |
| less, or having higher levels of energy. It is rare. | | | | proper diagnosis. I usually refer families to UCLA |
| But it does happen. | | | | for a better evaluation, but in your community |
| About three times per year a child is brought to | | | | you may need to rely on an evaluation by a very |
| my office for an assessment for ADHD who | | | | good psychiatrist (never go to a bad or even |
| ends up having "Early Onset Bi-Polar Disorder." | | | | average psychiatrist, only good ones!). Ask about |
| These children are typically displaying very | | | | experience with bi-polar disorder in children. |
| extreme behaviors, such as throwing their bicycle | | | | Telephone teaching hospitals in your area if there |
| -- off of the roof -- at the policemen who have | | | | are any, or call your local private psychiatric |
| been called, and so on. (When I received that call I | | | | hospital. Don't ask the switch board operator for a |
| wasn't sure what to ask first. "What was he doing | | | | referral, instead ask for the children's unit or the |
| on the roof with his bike?" was the best I could | | | | adolescent unit. Once transferred there, ask the |
| think of. "He was going to ride off of the roof, of | | | | unit nurse who they would recommend ("If it |
| course." was the answer from the child's mom.) | | | | were your child, who would you take your child to |
| The behaviors may not be constant or | | | | see?") The nurses know. |