[Bipolar paediatric disorder early diagnosis]
1Service médico-pédagogique vaudois 15, avenue de la Gare, 1110 Morges. Manuel.Macias@hospvd.ch
Insights
Bipolar Disorder in children is underdiagnosed. Early identification of risk indicators like irritability and impulsivity, alongside comorbidities, aids timely diagnosis and treatment.
Area of Science:
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Developmental Psychology
- Neuroscience
Context:
- Bipolar Disorder (BD) in infants and children is frequently overlooked and underdiagnosed.
- Existing diagnostic criteria may not fully capture the presentation in pediatric populations.
- Comorbidities such as Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often complicate the clinical picture.
Purpose:
- To delineate the clinical features and risk indicators of Bipolar Disorder in pediatric populations.
- To explore common comorbidities that may obscure or mimic Bipolar Disorder symptoms.
- To establish a framework for assessing clinical risk based on observable indicators.
Summary:
- Key prodromal symptoms include irritability, impulsivity, hyperactivity, frustration intolerance, and sleep disturbances.
- The presence of suicidality, substance abuse (cannabis, alcohol), or psychotic symptoms warrants strong consideration for Bipolar Disorder.
- A significant family history of psychiatric illness is a crucial factor in risk assessment.
Impact:
- Improved early detection and diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder in children and adolescents.
- Facilitation of prompt and appropriate treatment initiation, potentially altering long-term outcomes.
- Enhanced clinical guidance for child psychiatrists encountering complex pediatric presentations.
Abstract:
The Bipolar Disorder in infants and youngsters is not very known and under-diagnosed in the concerned population. We hereby describe its clinical features, its comorbidity along with other frequent psychopathologies, such as ADHD, which enable us to describe the symptoms and the indicators of risk. According to how these indicators appear, we can establish various degrees of clinical risk. Irritability, impulsiveness, hyperactivity, intolerance to frustration and sleep disorders are the most frequent prodroms. If they present a clinic of suicidality, toxic abuse (cannabis, alcohol), or even psychotic symptoms, in the context of significant family history, the child psychiatrist should not doubt to diagnose Bipolar Disorder and start the corresponding treatment.
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