My grandson was diagnosed as being Bi-Polar at the age of 5. What are the statistics of this being true.?

Question

What are the statistics on this. How can they diagnose him as being bi-polar at such a young age. Bi-polar people are on a high one minute and then go to a low the next. I have never seen this kind of behavior in my grandson. He is 6 years old now and has been on many different meds. What is the percentage of Suicide in those that are drugged when they reach their teens. Can anyone help me here. Thank you.

Answer 1

I don't remeber the website I read it at and when i find it I will update this. Leaders in the APA have admitted that most mental diagnosis made about patients especially children are untrue. There is not a psychologist or psychiatrist on this palnet that truly understands the human brain and most diagnosis that exist today are just best guesses. 99.99% of medication prescribed for different psychological problems are not tested to be safe for children under 14. About 95% of medications have been deemed to actually be harmful and eventually lead to death in all children under 18. I have a step-son 11 years old that was diagnosed at about 6 as schizophrenic and ADHD and was put on all sorts of medications. These medications gave him ticks, depression, uncontrollable outbursts, uncontrollable anger, uncontrollable accidents in his underwear, uncontrollable drooling, and just plain messed him up. We gradually took him off the medications and put him on natural medicines and now almost a year later he seems to be a normal boy and no longer has any of the problems the medication gave him, and he is now no longer on the natural medicines. You need to get a second and even third opinion and talk with a doctor that believes in natural medicine, also go and speak with the experts at a natural health store, and not GNC or Hi-Health they are not true experts in the things they sell. The most common natural medicine to put children on with any kind of behavior or mental problem is Omega-3 fatty acids and Omega-3 fish oils many time mixed with other things. My child went from 4 different medications to one product called Omega-3 mood this did more for him than any of the other medications ever did and in less time. Also here is a good website to check out and may help a little http://www.notmilk.com/ I hope this helps and saves your grandsons life before it is too late.

Answer 2

I think you should get a second opinion. I grew up around many different cases of bipolar disorder and have never heard of such an early diagnosis. In fact, according to accredited psychologists, the signs of BPD become most evident at about 20-25 years of age.
There are a lot of disorders and developmental disabilities that share some symptoms of bipolar disorder, you should educate yourself about these disorders and whether or not they apply to your child.
You may also need to question the discipline situation in the child's home and school. When you are dealing with a toddler or small child with a developmental disability or disorder, you must maintain a structured environment and always be consistant. Otherwise behavior and emotional problems may arise.
Parents and teachers should not use a diagnosis as an excuse to allow bad behavior. Their most important job is to help that child have a normal life, which means they should have similar expectations for this child as they would have for any normal child.
I understand how desperate it makes a person feel to not know what is wrong with their child, especially when you get a diagnosis that you can't accept. You drive yourself crazy trying to learn everything you can about the diagnosis. One minute you feel sure that it is right, and an instant later you assure yourself that it is wrong. My child was diagnosed with autism two years ago and I still struggle with the mental tug-of-war that you are experiencing. The moment my child began displaying abnormal behavior and quit meeting devepmental milestones, my life changed forever. It took a long time for me to accept it. One day it just made sense; this is what I signed on for. We don't ever know what we are going to get when we see the two blue lines show up.
You have a difficult road ahead, but your grandson is lucky to have a supportive grandmother. The family support system is the most crucial part of accepting and overcoming a child's disability.
Good luck.

Answer 3

I'm not a physician but what I would do is different .What is the reason that such a young child is on drugs? 5 years of age and Bi Polar? Bipolar is a fancy word for depression.What are these people telling you ? The fact that you question it rings alarm bells .Depressed ? Do the parents believe the doctors?

If your grandson is not depressed and you can't see it go with your gut instinct .I would take the kid for walks in the nature , show him peaceful environments , I don't know the surroundings of the child (this includes people around him ) but if you can get away with him that may just do it. And to see that you are thinking he may suicide? See what are you thinking? Give up all this worrying .Again I would take him away from all the medicines (What are they for?) and frequently place him into a nurturing , peaceful environment .Then see from there and maybe get alternative help .I wish you and him the best .

Answer 4

I find it hard to believe that he is Bipolar at such an early age. I am 46 and i was diagnosed at the age of 35 with Bipolar disorder. Yes i have tried to commit suicide especially when on Prozac. I would take him to another doctor and have him reevaluated again because i really doubt that he is Bipolar at such a young age.

Answer 5

Sorry your so worried ...It is hard when our children have and illness and especially hard when it is our grandchildren.
Bipolar is a chemical imbalancement in the brain.
I've been doing a lot of reading on the subject for the last ten years and was a care giver.
They are diagnosing children more early in age.
The faster you treat the bipolar the better chance you have on getting a handle on it...
Medication and therapy are a must...
It is important that it gets controlled and the child learns how to live with the disorder.
so they are always ahead of it because once it takes control it's hard to get back in control.
suicide attempts are more likely to happen when your out of control...
The right combination of medications and therapy can work.

Do get a second opinion if you feel you need to for peace of mind...good luck... This is just what I think and experienced first hand...I am not a doctor...

Answer 6

Not very likely at this age that he would be diagnosed with bi polar. I would get a second opinion, they could barely diagnose my son for depression they said he was so boarder line cause of his age mostly, the brain is not fully developed, or something along those lines. People just really feel the need to dope kids up when they don't fit their ideal don't they? How sad that we can't all be bleating sheep. (not)!

Answer 7

Ya know...what DID our ancestors do? I mean, they NEVER heard of such things...now, every child that 'acts' up in a manner that is not conformed to a 'standard' is a mental case. Sorry, I don't mean that in a wrong way...but this is just wrong. I would not invest too much in the quack who diagnosed him..this is how the system gets ahold of children and makes money while they are at it...if there are emotional problems. better see who is causing it and get THEM some meds...man this makes me mad...sorry...I think kids today are being used as guinea pigs myself. He probably needs a big field to run off his energy and to go fishing for a weekend SHEESH

Answer 8

Adolescents go thru so many hormonal changes & bi-polar onset can begin during these years - it's not uncommon at all. I would strongly advise that you speak with a mental health professional in addition to searching online for information. There are many successful meds & therapies available - don't worry!

Answer 9

The 4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), published by the American Psychiatric Association stipulates that there must be manic or hypomanic episodes, before one can make a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, regardless of the patient's age.

A manic episode is characterized by a distinct period of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood, lasting at least 1 week (or any duration if hospitalization is necessary). During the period of mood disturbance, 3 or more of the following symptoms will have persisted (4 if the mood is only irritable), and have been present to a significant degree, causing marked impairment in social, academic, or occupational functioning: inflated self-esteem or grandiosity, decreased need for sleep, increased or pressured speech, flight of ideas or racing thoughts, distractibility, increased activity (either socially, at school or work, or sexually) or agitation, and excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that have a high potential for painful consequences (e.g. shopping sprees, sexual indiscretions, or foolish business investments).

Hypomanic episodes are similar to manic episodes, but the symptoms only need to have been present for at least 4 days.

Available data suggest that the lifetime prevalence of bipolar disorders is about 0.5-1.5% of the general population, with the onset of the illness usually being in the teenage years onwards. However, bipolar disorder may be diagnosed in younger individuals such as those you refer to, with a great deal of caution, provided they meet the diagnostic criteria mentioned above. One would take into consideration the presence of symptoms (such as irritability, or mood lability) that significantly exceeds that expected for the child's developmental stage. Bipolar disorder in children may be treated with medications, under the care of a physician with expertise in child psychiatry.

Answer 10

First, I am not a doctor.
How is that possible when his brain is not developed? He's only five years old! If he were mine I would immediately seek another souce of nformatoin. I'm not saying he doesn't have a problem somewhere, medically. But it is hard to phathom a psychiatric diagnosis on a five year old. It makes not sense.that could be possible (to me). Yes they can have psychological problems with bad dreams, etc, from something going on in his little life not of his doing and yes, he can have a medical problem....a tumor or chemical imbalance...but bipolar...I am very sceptical.

Do have him re-evaluated elsewhere...he could have been placed on meds that could harm him. At least rule it out.