Bipolar Disorder In Teens
Bipolar disorder can happen to any body and that includes children and teens. The duration, frequency and intensity, of a child’s symptoms and it’s response to treatment vary dramatically. The onset of this disease occurs during teenage or early adult period. This is a life long disease but the comforting news is that it can be treated.
In children bipolar disorder may affect the function, size and shape of brain regions and networks as they grow up. Children who suffer this disease can have the symptoms more often than adults who are bipolar. Studies show that that symptoms and intensity may change due to growth of brain since parts of brain mature at varying rates and also at varying times. The brain attains full maturity around the age of 25. So the symptoms can also change in conjunction with the varying maturity levels of brain. Bipolar disorder in children can be more severe than that experienced by older teens and adults.
So far the exact cause for this disorder is not known and research is on to find the risk factors that may contribute to the onset of this disease. The causes of bipolar disorder in children can vary from child to child. The main contributing factor is genetics and the disease causing gene may have been inherited. Another reason can be abnormal brain structure and function. Anxiety disorders in children can also predispose them to bipolar disorder.
Bipolar children and teens may experience more mixed episodes compared to bipolar adults. These mood episodes are intense, causing behavior changes and can last for a week or two along with the symptoms. The symptoms vary in intensity and duration from child to child. The child may experience manic episodes or depressive episodes or mixed episodes and the symptoms too vary according to the type of episode experienced.
Children and teens during a manic episode may do risky things. They will think and talk about sex more often. They can not stay focused and will not feel the need to sleep but at the same time will not feel tired. They lose temper easily and may act silly. They also will have the tendency to talk fast, changing the topics frequently.
Learn about childhood bipolar disorder.Visit the site to know how bipolar disorder in teens affects them.
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