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subject: The Bipolar Child [print this page]

From Pure Facts, October 2007

Once called "manic depressive disorder," the label now

in favor is "bipolar." New research suggests that most

children and teens labeled as bipolar have been

misdiagnosed.

In recent years there has been a huge increase in the number

of children being diagnosed with bipolar disorder and being

placed on various powerful drugs.

A study published in the September 2007 issue of Archives

of General Psychiatry found that the numbers of diagnosed

children increase forty-fold between 1994 and 2003. In

comparison, the number of diagnosed adults increased two-fold.

And an earlier study published in the June issue of

Biological Psychiatry showed that US children

hospitalized for bipolar disorders increased from 1.3 per 10,000

in 1995 to 7.3per 10,000 in 2004.

One psychiatrist who has studied bipolar

disorders in children reports that

only one child in five who is referred to her

for treatment of this condition

actually has it. And the National Institutes

of Mental Health Director, Dr. Thomas Insel, says

that of the children referred to them for studies

on bipolar disorder, only a small fraction of the

children actually had the disorder.

About half of the children diagnosed with bipolar disorder were also

diagnosed with other disorders, primarily ADHD.

There's another reason critics are skeptical.

For children, the bipolar diagnosis is most common

in boys, but for adults, it is most common in women.

Like ADHD and depression, bipolar disorder appears to run in

families. But allergies and chemical sensitivities also

tend to run in families; so do vitamin and mineral

deficiencies.

The drugs

Two of the antipsychotic drugs given to these children are

Resperdal and Seroquel, both developed for schizophrenia.

Also, antidepressants, stimulants, and a drug for epilepsy

(Depakote) are being prescribed.

Doctors are using the information they have gathered from

treating adults, and are applying this to children, but the

symptoms of children and adults are not the same. Then they

are prescribing drugs that have been used in adults, but do

not have a history of successful use in children.

Big drug profits

Newer, more expensive drugs are being heavily promoted over older ones,

and might not be any more effective. (The cost of one year of drug

treatment can run as high as $8,000.)

Some doctors who treat bipolar children receive large payments from

companies making antipsychotic drugs. This is bringing sharp

criticism from fellow physicians.

Irritability is a characteristic of bipolar disorder, according

to Dr. Insel, but it is also a normal part of adolescence.

ADHD

Many of the bipolar symptoms overlap ADHD symptoms. The

dietary program that addresses causes of ADHD could be effective

for the symptoms of bipolar disorder.

Feingold parents have reported countless examples of extreme

mood and behavior swings that have been triggered by food

additives and other petrochemicals. Here are a few:

- Andrea had a drink of red punch in the church

meeting hall; shortly afterward her behavior changed drastically

and she ran around the room, biting people.

- Johnny went to a restaurant with his family and behaved

well until he ate some green pistachio ice cream.

After that he tore around the restaurant, out of control.

- Billy wanted a Coke with his hamburger, but mom didn't

want him to have caffeine and gave him the orange

colored drink instead. Before they finished their meal,

he was climbing all over the chairs and tables.

- Harry went out to fill up the gas tank. He left in a

good mood and returned shortly afterward (having breathed

in the fumes from the gasoline), very agitated and irritable.

- Jenny behaved so well, she was rewarded with a bright

pink slushee and by the time the family got home

she was out of control.

For each of these people, the answer was to identify and remove the

offending substances, not to attempt to disguise the symptoms

by adding more chemicals in the form of drugs.

by: Jane Hersey

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