The article titled “Early Intervention in Bipolar Disorder” emphasizes that although bipolar disorder is commonly associated with adults, it can also occur in children and adolescents as well. The authors emphasize that the negative impacts of bipolar disorder on children can cause serious outcomes to a child’s life if left untreated. Misdiagnosis can also lead to inappropriate negative impacts on a child’s quality of life as the disorder in children is often misdiagnosed with other conditions like ADHD (Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) (Vieta et al., 2018). Thus, the article summarizes and emphasizes that early and accurate identification of bipolar disorder in children is crucial for effective management and improved outcomes for children’s lives.
The article selected to refute the argument that bipolar disorder in children should not be diagnosed is titled “‘Pediatric Bipolar Disorder’ Rates are Still Lower than Claimed: a Re-Examination of Eight Epidemiological Surveys Used by an Updated Meta-Analysis”, which claims that PBD is not prevalent as it is previously claimed. The article emphasizes that bipolar disorder in children is rare, so caution should be exercised in diagnosing PBD in children because over-diagnosis at an early age can lead to adverse “iatrogenic” risks in children (Parry et al., 2021). The authors also found out that although hypomania exists in adolescent children, it does not necessarily lead to adult bipolar disorder, so the diagnostic construct of PBD term should be abandoned for children.
In my opinion, diagnosing bipolar disorder in children during the early stages of their growth and development into an adult is essential to recognize because, like adults and teenagers, young children can also experience bipolar symptoms. Early recognition and diagnostic intervention are essential so that the disorder can be effectively managed before children develop self-harm tendencies and suicidal thoughts. While there is no effective diagnostic test and cure for bipolar children, early diagnosis and effective treatment at the earliest can help children lead healthy lives.
References
Parry, P., Allison, S., & Bastiampillai, T. (2021). ‘Pediatric Bipolar Disorder’rates are still lower than claimed: A re-examination of eight epidemiological surveys used by an updated meta-analysis. International Journal of Bipolar Disorders, 9(1), 21.
Vieta, E., Salagre, E., Grande, I., Carvalho, A. F., Fernandes, B. S., Berk, M., Birmaher, B., Tohen, M., & Suppes, T. (2018). Early intervention in bipolar disorder. American Journal of Psychiatry, 175(5), 411–426.
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