The Young Bipolar: A Special Case

1. WWW-HANDBOOK ON CHILD AND YOUTH PSYCHIATRY:Bipolar Disorder -- If you go nowhere else on the web, go here! This is an absolutely incredible resource not only for those who wish to understand the bipolar child, but I emphatically recommend that all adult bipolars read this as well. I doubt any one of you will come away without having gained insight into what makes you, as a bipolar adult, tick. Top Billing Here!
   
   
2. Diagnosis and Treatment of Children and Adolescents -- A superb article by Mary Beth Cogan (May 1996).
   
   
3. Controversy Swirls Over Giving Children Antidepressants -- (The Brown University Child and Adolescent Behavior Letter, March 1997) - "Deciding whether or not an elementary school-aged child should take an antidepressant medication is striking an uneasy balance between the risks of depression and the risks of treatment." (You'll have to read this and decide for yourself)
   
   
4. Sympatico Health Links Reviews: Mental Health: Disorders in Children & Teens -- Sympatico is a very nice Canadian site you should become familiar with.
   
   
5. Depression Rx for Teens No Longer 'Hit or Miss'? -- By Pauline Anderson The Medical Post, February 20, 1996 - One of the most difficult problems faced by parents, teens and their physicians has been the lack of knowledge regarding proper dosage and drugs for their young patients. This article indicates that all that is rapidly changing for the better though.
   
   
6. Bipolar Disorder: Manic Depression and It's Effects on Children -- By Marsha Susan Tracy, this article is an inside look at the dynamics of the bipolar family unit with an emphasis on how the children from bipolar homes fare as they move through life. (Startling)
   
   
7. Adolescent Mania and Bipolar Disorder -- Another excellent article from Mescape. You must first register with Medscape before you can access this article. Register here. (Registration is free and one time only).
   
   
8. Bipolar Affective Disorder (Manic Depressive disorder) in Children and Adolescents - By James Chandler, MD, FRCPC - A straightforward exegesis of bipolar disorder in youth, classifications are explained (bipolar I, bipolar II, cyclothymia) and case studies offered as examples. (Easy to understand)
   
   
9. Lithium and Children -- A short piece found at the bottom of a longer bit on lithium, the article is from Reuters news service and discusses treating children as young as 6 or 7 with lithium. (Interesting)
   
   
10. !!FOR TEENS ONLY!! -- A place for those things that only a teenager ought to know. (Recommended)
    
    
11. Mental Health Risk Factors for Adolescents -- From the Adolescence Directory On-Line (ADOL), a service of the Center for Adolescent Studies at Indiana University. Educators, counselors, parents, researchers, health practitioners, and teens can use this collection of electronic resources.
    
    
12. Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD): What is it? - Unfortunately, many bipolar children and adolescents are misdiagnosed with this disorder. Frequently it later turns out to be the case that they aren't ODD, but ARE bipolar. Both ODD and ADHD are common comorbidities of the youthful bipolar.
    
    
13. Depression in Children and Adolescents -- Dr. Ivan speaks out about childhood depression.
    
    
14. Parental Influence, Pessimism, and Adolescent Suicidality -- From the professional journal Archives of Suicide Research- Kluwer Academic Publishers Ltd., this article is rather technical, but not impossible.
    
    
15. Children of Parents With Mental Illness -- Some valuable information for helping the children of bipolar persons. Children of a manic-depressive are at greater risk of mental illness themselves.
    
    
16. Manic-Depressive Illness In Teens -- This is a short piece, but may be useful.
    
    
17. Bipolar Children & School -- A question & answer section concerning bipolar disorder and children as well as other topics of interest.
    
    
18. NATIONAL INFORMATION CENTER FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES -- NICHCY is the national information and referral center that provides information on disabilities and disability-related issues for families, educators, and other professionals. Their special focus is children and youth (birth to age 22). Hablamos espaņol.
    
    
19. Coping With Bipolar, ADHD, ODD Children - Some solid advice for you parents from Dr. Chandler (Easy, clear read)
    
    
20. Lithium, Antidepressants, & Advice -- Discusses side effects of these drugs and contains a section devoted to pregnant women, the elderly & children.
    
    
21. Adolescent Suicide -- Bipolar youth are particularly at risk for suicide. No reason for your child to join the ranks if you'll read and learn, but most of all...listen.
    
    
22. Detection/Treatment of Mood Symptoms in Management of Violence -- You will also find this article listed under the section on self-medication since youth and those who self-medicate are frequently prone to violence. You must first register with Medscape before you can access the database. Register here Registration is free.
    
    
23. Risk factors for Adolescent Depression -- Teens are most at risk for suicide and bipolar teens are often misdiagnosed as unipolar depressives--pay attention to these signs if you've a troubled teen on your hands.
    
    
24. Homosexuality and Teen Suicide -- I put this link in as something you need to be aware of. It is alarming how many talented young people commit suicide because of isolation and alienation due to their sexual orientation. Keep the communication lines open folks or you may not have a child to communicate with.
    
    
25. Child & Adolescent Psychiatry -- This is the Priory Lodge site containing a variety of interesting and relevant materials dealing with youth and adults as well. This link goes directly to the youth page.
    
    
26. Questions to Ask When They Want to Hospitalize Your Child -- The advice in this short piece is equally valid for most anyone faced with hospitalisation.
    
    
27. New Antidepressants in Children -- It's so difficult to find information on youth and some mental disorders that it's worth pointing to a site that seems to be addressing the issue somewhat.
    
    
28. Alcoholism and Childhood Mood Disorders -- The Link Between Parental Alcoholism and Childhood Mood Disorders: A Familial/Genetic Perspective - Author: Richard D. Todd, MD, PhD, Washington University School of Medicine. A very good article on this topic --- Register here -- You must first register with Medscape before you can access the database. Registration is free.
    
    
29. US National Library of Medicine Search Engine -- This is an excellent site all the way around, but this link will take you directly to the search engine where a wealth of information for both youth and adult sufferers of this disorder.
    
    
30. Investigating The Bipolar Child -- From a social worker's point of view.
    
    
31. Questions You Should Ask About Your Child's Medications -- Side effects of psychotropic drugs can be extremely debillitating; it's really crucial you listen and stay tuned in to your child's physical and mental state when beginning drug therapy.
    
    
32. BP-CAT: BiPolar Children and Teens -- A site dedicated to the trials of helping children and teens with bipolar and other related disorders such as ADHD. Efforts are underway here to build a strong support network for families with bipolar youngsters.
    
    

    
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