The Bipolar Child: The Definitive and Reassuring Guide to Childhood's Most Misunderstood Disorder

After almost three years in print and more than 100,000 copies sold, The Bipolar Child has made an indelible mark on the field of psychiatry and has become the resource that families rely on. Now in the first book about early-onset bipolar disorder is completely revised and expanded.

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.

Since the publication of the first edition, thousands of families have gotten to the root of their children’s behaviors, and found the answers they were looking for in The Bipolar Child. 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. New to this edition are information on promising new mood-stabilizing drugs and omega-3 fatty acids, more advice on getting appropriate school accommodations, and a full discussion about the complexities of family life when more than one family member has the illness. A critical new chapter deals with the deficits in the area of executive functions that have recently been identified as a common feature of a bipolar disorder. This chapter walks parents through a neuropsychological testing and–for the first time–recommends a specific battery of tests that should be administered to these children and adolescents.

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. Already proven, in its original edition, to be 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.

Advance Praise for The Bipolar Child:
"Demitri and Janice Papolos have broken important new ground by taking on the challenging problem of bipolar (manic-depressive) disorder in children and adolescents. . . . Their new book balances scientific and clinical knowledge with moving personal accounts of experiences of real families. Their efforts are welcome."
--Ross J. Baldessarini, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience at Harvard Medical School, Director of the Bipolar & Psychotic Disorders Program, McLean Division of Massachusetts General Hospital
"The Bipolar Child is a well-organized, practical, and authoritative book by highly knowledgeable authors. As the first book on this subject it fills a huge void and will be extremely helpful for families
--E. Fuller Torrey, M.D., Executive Director, The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill Research Institute
"The Papoloses have somehow managed to climb into the minds of the parents of bipolar children and answer our tremendous number of questions. . . . Finally, parents of bipolar children have a book that will help them find hope!"
--S. M. Tomie Burke, Founder, Parents of Bipolar Children and the BPPARENT Listserv
"This book should make the public as well as the field of psychiatry rethink their perceptions of this devastating illness of childhood. It is a book whose time has come."
--Victoria Secunda, author of When Madness Comes Home
"The Bipolar Child will help families understand the out-of-control child. It includes moving, well-written, and sensitive accounts from many families who have experienced early onset of this very disabling disorder. The good news is, however, that there is treatmentand it works."
--Laurie Flynn, Executive Director, The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill Research Institute

" Demitri and Janice Papolos have broken important new ground by taking on the challenging problem of bipolar disorder in children and adolescents. This book balances scientific and clinical knowledge with moving personal accounts of experiences of real families." -- Ross J. Baldessarini, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School
" The Bipolar Child is a well-organized, practical, and authoritative book by highly knowledgeable authors. It fills a huge void and will be extremely helpful for families." -- E. Fuller Torrey, M.D., Executive Director, Stanley Medical Research Institute
" The strengths of the book are its poignant accounts of difficult-to-manage children, its exposition of much current thinking about early-onset bipolar disorder, and its comprehensive approach toward the needs of children and families. The authors' tone is that of concerned experts who are aware of the emotional and practical obstacles confronting parents in obtaining help for their children." -- "Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry" (A. Reese Abright, M.D.)
" Parents of my patients with bipolar disorder who have read the book returned to treatment with the whole family and have become active change agents at home, in school, and in our local government. Reading the book fuels an enlightened advocacy for the appropriate treatment modalities described by the authors in clear, simple, and concise terms." -- "American Journal of Psychiatry" (Truce T. Ordona, M.D.)
" The Papoloses have somehow managed to climb into the minds of the parents of bipolarchildren and answer our tremendous number of questions . . . Finally, parents of bipolar children have a book that will help them find hope!" -- S. M. Tomie Burke, Founder, Parents of Bipolar Children and BPParent Listserv

"Demitri and Janice Papolos have broken important new ground by taking on the challenging problem of bipolar disorder in children and adolescents. This book balances scientific and clinical knowledge with moving personal accounts of experiences of real families." --Ross J. Baldessarini, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School
"The Bipolar Child is a well-organized, practical, and authoritative book by highly knowledgeable authors. It fills a huge void and will be extremely helpful for families." --E. Fuller Torrey, M.D., Executive Director, Stanley Medical Research Institute
"The strengths of the book are its poignant accounts of difficult-to-manage children, its exposition of much current thinking about early-onset bipolar disorder, and its comprehensive approach toward the needs of children and families. The authors' tone is that of concerned experts who are aware of the emotional and practical obstacles confronting parents in obtaining help for their children." --"Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry" (A. Reese Abright, M.D.)
"Parents of my patients with bipolar disorder who have read the book returned to treatment with the whole family and have become active change agents at home, in school, and in our local government. Reading the book fuels an enlightened advocacy for the appropriate treatment modalities described by the authors in clear, simple, and concise terms." --"American Journal ofPsychiatry" (Truce T. Ordona, M.D.)
"The Papoloses have somehow managed to climb into the minds of the parents of bipolar children and answer our tremendous number of questions . . . Finally, parents of bipolar children have a book that will help them find hope!" --S. M. Tomie Burke, Founder, Parents of Bipolar Children and BPParent Listserv

“Demitri and Janice Papolos have broken important new ground by taking on the challenging problem of bipolar disorder in children and adolescents. This book balances scientific and clinical knowledge with moving personal accounts of experiences of real families.” —Ross J. Baldessarini, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School
“The Bipolar Child is a well-organized, practical, and authoritative book by highly knowledgeable authors. It fills a huge void and will be extremely helpful for families.” —E. Fuller Torrey, M.D., Executive Director, Stanley Medical Research Institute
“The strengths of the book are its poignant accounts of difficult-to-manage children, its exposition of much current thinking about early-onset bipolar disorder, and its comprehensive approach toward the needs of children and families. The authors’ tone is that of concerned experts who are aware of the emotional and practical obsta

Demitri and Janice Papolos have broken important new ground by taking on the challenging problem of bipolar disorder in children and adolescents. This book balances scientific and clinical knowledge with moving personal accounts of experiences of real families. Ross J. Baldessarini, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School
The Bipolar Child is a well-organized, practical, and authoritative book by highly knowledgeable authors. It fills a huge void and will be extremely helpful for families. E. Fuller Torrey, M.D., Executive Director, Stanley Medical Research Institute
The strengths of the book are its poignant accounts of difficult-to-manage children, its exposition of much current thinking about early-onset bipolar disorder, and its comprehensive approach toward the needs of children and families. The authors tone is that of concerned experts who are aware of the emotional and practical obstacles confronting parents in obtaining help for their children. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (A. Reese Abright, M.D.)
Parents of my patients with bipolar disorder who have read the book returned to treatment with the whole family and have become active change agents at home, in school, and in our local government. Reading the book fuels an enlightened advocacy for the appropriate treatment modalities described by the authors in clear, simple, and concise terms. American Journal of Psychiatry (Truce T. Ordona, M.D.)
The Papoloses have somehow managed to climb into the minds of the parents of bipolar children and answer our tremendous number of questions . . . Finally, parents of bipolar children have a book that will help them find hope! S. M. Tomie Burke, Founder, Parents of Bipolar Children and BPParent Listserv"

"Demitri and Janice Papolos have broken important new ground by taking on the challenging problem of bipolar disorder in children and adolescents. This book balances scientific and clinical knowledge with moving personal accounts of experiences of real families." --Ross J. Baldessarini, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School
"The Bipolar Child is a well-organized, practical, and authoritative book by highly knowledgeable authors. It fills a huge void and will be extremely helpful for families." --E. Fuller Torrey, M.D., Executive Director, Stanley Medical Research Institute
"The strengths of the book are its poignant accounts of difficult-to-manage children, its exposition of much current thinking about early-onset bipolar disorder, and its comprehensive approach toward the needs of children and families. The authors' tone is that of concerned experts who are aware of the emotional and practical obstacles confronting parents in obtaining help for their children." --Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (A. Reese Abright, M.D.)
"Parents of my patients with bipolar disorder who have read the book returned to treatment with the whole family and have become active change agents at home, in school, and in our local government. Reading the book fuels an enlightened advocacy for the appropriate treatment modalities described by the authors in clear, simple, and concise terms." --American Journal of Psychiatry (Truce T. Ordona, M.D.)
"The Papoloses have somehow managed to climb into the minds of the parents of bipolar children and answer our tremendous number of questions . . . Finally, parents of bipolar children have a book that will help them find hope!" --S. M. Tomie Burke, Founder, Parents of Bipolar Children and BPParent Listserv

-Demitri and Janice Papolos have broken important new ground by taking on the challenging problem of bipolar disorder in children and adolescents. This book balances scientific and clinical knowledge with moving personal accounts of experiences of real families.- --Ross J. Baldessarini, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School
-The Bipolar Child is a well-organized, practical, and authoritative book by highly knowledgeable authors. It fills a huge void and will be extremely helpful for families.- --E. Fuller Torrey, M.D., Executive Director, Stanley Medical Research Institute
-The strengths of the book are its poignant accounts of difficult-to-manage children, its exposition of much current thinking about early-onset bipolar disorder, and its comprehensive approach toward the needs of children and families. The authors' tone is that of concerned experts who are aware of the emotional and practical obstacles confronting parents in obtaining help for their children.- --Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (A. Reese Abright, M.D.)
-Parents of my patients with bipolar disorder who have read the book returned to treatment with the whole family and have become active change agents at home, in school, and in our local government. Reading the book fuels an enlightened advocacy for the appropriate treatment modalities described by the authors in clear, simple, and concise terms.- --American Journal of Psychiatry (Truce T. Ordona, M.D.)
-The Papoloses have somehow managed to climb into the minds of the parents of bipolar children and answer our tremendous number of questions . . . Finally, parents of bipolar children have a book that will help them find hope!- --S. M. Tomie Burke, Founder, Parents of Bipolar Children and BPParent Listserv