It was about just what I've been saying....too many kids are being diagnosed with bipolar..when they're not...And..too many are being given too much medicine. The little girl on there died from being prescribed too much clonodine. JUST BE CAREFUL!!! Just because a dr. says something ...doesn't mean it's true. You have to use your common sense too and RESEARCH, RESEARCH , RESEARCH !!! What do you think about this "bipolar fad"??
2007-09-30 15:51:16 · 7 answers · asked by Deenie 6 in Health ➔ Mental Health
Manic depression has been found in 1-2% of the population for at least 60 years. That stat includes all the people who are not dx'd hypo/mania until their 20s, 30s, 40s+. Now, there's a kid in every other classroom??? Yeh, right. It's like it replaced ADHD or something. It's also about time that the over diagnosing got some press, especially since the media helped promote the over diagnosing in the first place.
As for BP in very young children, it does happen, but only very, very rarely to the degree that needs stabilizers. (I knew one of these kids. Extremely hyper the day he popped out of the womb. His parents didn't consent to meds until high school when his swings went suicidally down and psychotically up.)
I have to say, however, that the trend in dx'ing people who do not respond to a series of antidepressants w/soft bipolar when stabilizers actually work is a different story. It doesn't matter if they don't really fit the dx when the treatment is the one that actually works. Further, people with BPII typically spend 10 horrible years on antidepressants before they are properly diagnosed - and that includes those who met the full criteria all along. It's just as unfortunate as the over diagnosing.
Btw, I also find it surprising the number of kids who pop on here to ask if they are bipolar when almost all the time they are basically describing regular teen moodiness.
~bipolar, depression but no mania as a child :)
2007-09-30 16:17:59 · answer #1 · answered by Alex62 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well, I'm surprise the doctor gave her three different strong drugs. The parents also gave her double doses, and it was a double dose of Clonidine that apparently killed the kid.
I have taken Seroquel myself, it was too strong for me and I quit taking it. I'm a 50 year old male about 6 feet tall and 250 pounds. I can't imagine giving that stuff to a little kid.
I don't have any idea how they can possible tell the difference between Bipolar and ADHD in a child that young. I agree with the one psychiatrist who said it's better to assume it's ADHD and stay with meds that have been approved for children.
There is a psychiatrist I know work. He was talking about a small child being diagnosed with either Schizophrenia or Bipolar and he said he thought it was "irresponsible."
I had some unusual behavior when I was in grade school; but that was back in the 60s and they didn't give all those drugs to kids like they do now. The school tried to classify me as "mentally retarded" but my IQ tested at 150. They didn't know what to do with me, so they just said "he's difficult." It got better when I was transferred to a private school. I know for certain that I depressed even as a child, but I never got treatment until I was an adult.
PS: I have done quality assurance audits for on psychiatric record, and I can say for certain that haven been blood tests for Lithium levels since at least 1992. I never heard of this being done for someone who wasn't already taking Lithium as drug, however. I have never heard of a "Lithium deficiency" being the cause of Bipolar Disorder before.
2007-09-30 23:08:06 · answer #2 · answered by majnun99 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
First let me say my daughter has bipolar and before you say its the doctor wanting more money I live in the UK and they don't get more money for it. let me also say she is not on any medication as I think she is to young for them types of medication. let me also say its not bad parenting as I have 4 children and only Chloe has it. Also let me say its genetic and I come from a long family history of bipolar including myself. none of the above was a dig at any point just wanting people to see it from another point of view. I do how ever feel that far to many children going through hormonal changes are diagnosed with it when its just the normal stage of there age. take care good luck
2007-10-01 02:04:35 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe that there are legitimate cases of bipolar disorder... but why are so many mental health cases simply treated with medication without attempting to get to the bottom of the issues that cause them? Why do psychiatrists try and hold all the cards, instead of empowering their patients to help themselves? I just don't get it.
2007-09-30 23:52:39 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is truly frightening the amount of people that are being diagnosed as Bi-polar. Alot of those include, teenage girls and recovering addicts. With the girls alot can be credited to hormonal changes and with those in recovery alot are just looking for an excuse to explain the addiction. True Bi-polar disorder involves the lack of production of lithium and unfortunately there is no blood test to detect this. I wish there was.
2007-09-30 23:06:36 · answer #5 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I was diagnosed as Bipolar and kidnapped by the clinic. Ive never even had one sign of it my whole life total fraud. I wish I had sued for more or held out longer.
2007-09-30 23:06:35 · answer #6 · answered by theroadwetake 3 · 1⤊ 3⤋
O BUT IT WAS A HOT TOPIC ON OPRAH LAST WEEK!!!!
2007-09-30 23:02:52 · answer #7 · answered by lalawoods1972 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋