Editorial Review:

From the authors of the classic text Overcoming Depression, here is the first book about early-onset bipolar disorder.
Bipolar disorder--manic depression--was once thought to be rare in children. Now researchers are discovering that not only can bipolar disorder begin very early in life, but also that it is much more common than ever imagined. Yet the illness is often misdiagnosed or overlooked. Why?
Bipolar disorder manifests itself differently in children than in adults, and in children there is an overlap of symptoms with other childhood psychiatric disorders. As a result, these kids may be given any number of psychiatric labels: "ADHD," "Depressed," "Oppositional Defiant Disorder," "Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder," or "Separation Anxiety Disorder." Too often they are treated with stimulants or antidepressants--medications that can actually worsen the bipolar condition.
The Bipolar Child demystifies this disorder of childhood. Drawing upon recent advances in the fields of neuroscience and genetics, the Papoloses convey what is known and not known about the illness. They comprehensively detail the diagnosis, tell how to find good treatment and medications, and advise parents about ways to advocate effectively for their children at school. Included in these pages is the first Individual Education Plan--IEP--ever published for a bipolar child. The book also offers critical information about the stages of adolescence, hospitalization, the world of insurance, and the psychological impact the illness has on the child.
The Bipolar Child is rich with the voices of parents, siblings, and the children themselves, opening up the long-closed world of the families struggling with this condition. An invaluable resource for parents whose children suffer from mood disorders, as well as the professionals who treat and educate them, this book will prove to have major public health significance.

For any caregiver experiencing life with a bipolar child, Demitri and Janice Papolos's The Bipolar Child will be an indispensable reference guide. The material is presented clearly, with lots of helpful charts and lists to aid in receiving proper diagnosis, treatment, and long-term care. All medical information is relayed with the aim of helping parents to ensure effective treatment for their children and includes journal-tracking formats to help caregivers provide accurate information to personal physicians. Importantly, many pages are devoted to discussions about the emotional upheavals that living with a bipolar child can bring, and how parents and children can cope most effectively. The book is filled with families' stories that do a beautiful job providing comfort and inspiration to others. A detailed chapter on hospitalization covers everything from insurance to types of treatments. The authors provide excellent information regarding improved educational practices, with step-by-step instructions for goal-setting with your child and communicating your child's needs to school personnel. The Bipolar Child is a satisfying and wise read. --Jill Lightner

Customer Reviews:

Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0

The Bipolar Child:

This book is a must for understanding why your bipolar child does some of the things they do. We are raising our Grand daughter who is bipolar and it has given me far more information than anything I had read. It gets easier to be more patient and understanding when you realize that the child is not just being defiant and hard to get along with.
Some parts get a little technical, but if you are dealing with a child with this illness you will certainly get your money's worth.

Comprehensive reference for frustrated parents:

Overall, this is a very good book. It contains a good mixture of medical information, real life examples, research findings, and links to resources and support groups. (The later may be especially useful to you.) Unfortunately, the book tries to address too diverse an audience simultaneously. Most of it is for parents, but one chapter is way too technical. At times, it seems like the authors are trying to write to the medical community of therapists and physicans at their level as well as to parents without... more info

Ought to be illegal.:

I wonder why nobody goes to prison over this. Drugging children should be against the law. For whatever reason a child misbehaves, using drugs in any case should be met with the prescriber being imprisoned. My life was literally, not practically, not virtually, but literally ruined by being drugged as a child -- I would had rather been a [...] rape victim, at least then I would have healed. Yet, nobody gets stopped and nobody gets punished. The practice continues, rationalized by horrible people doing... more info

Bi-polar:

I was very happy to find this book during the time that I needed it most. It was definitely a great source of information.

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