Bipolar Disorder in Children and Teens: A Parent’s Guide

All parents can relate to the many changes
their kids go through as they grow up.
But sometimes it’s hard to tell if a child is
just going through a “phase,” or perhaps
showing signs of something more serious.
Recently, doctors have been diagnosing
more children with bipolar disorder,1
sometimes called manic-depressive illness.
But what does this illness really mean for a
child?
This booklet is a guide for parents who think
their child may have symptoms of bipolar
disorder, or parents whose child has been
diagnosed with the illness.