The Bipolar Child book question

[Lecka]

I am reading the book The Bipolar Child, there are some interesting parts.

I am curious what someone reading this book now would think about how what is described would be diagnosed now.

I get a heavy autism vibe.  

Then it seems like a broader group of kids who have irritability can try medication without it having to mean “early onset bipolar disorder.”  

Edit:  I am assuming there are still kids who do have early onset bipolar disorder.  

Edited February 27 by Lecka

[8filltheheart]

I read the book 20 yrs ago when my now 32 yos was 12.  We had taken him to a neurobehavioral specialist who diagnosed him as bipolar without even having spoken to him.  He made the diagnosis based on the parental survey.  He literally brought us into his office, never even looked at ds, and started writing scripts for heavy duty meds while telling us that he had diagnosed children as young as 18 months!!!!! as bipolar.  

On the way home, we stopped by B&N and bought the book.  I stayed up all night reading it.  I threw the scripts out in the morning.  That book did not describe our ds.  I was infuriated.  The back of the book listed all of the testing that should be done, etc.  He did nothing!  It made me wonder how many kids were diagnosed by that man and were put on meds with parents who just accepted what he said bc he was the "dr." 

Our ds is autistic with anxiety as his main comorbidity.  (When he was younger, he was ADHD and had no impulse control.)  But, he was definitely not bipolar. 

[Lecka]

From currently reading the book, it says several places they see 80% having bipolar disorder in a 1st or 2nd degree relative on both the mother and father’s side, and in the other 20% they assume it’s there but not known, maybe because of adoption.  
 

There’s just no way that was being followed!!!!!!!!

 

 

[Lecka]

Honestly it is appalling that there would be a diagnosis that way, and in the meantime, what was missed that would have been appropriate!!!!!!!!!!!

[KSera]

6 hours ago, 8filltheheart said:

Our ds is autistic with anxiety as his main comorbidity.  (When he was younger, he was ADHD and had no impulse control.)  But, he was definitely not bipolar. 

I think this is a common combo that gets misdiagnosed. Particularly in bright autistic kids who function decently until adolescence (I don’t know if that fits your ds or not).

[8filltheheart]

46 minutes ago, KSera said:

I think this is a common combo that gets misdiagnosed. Particularly in bright autistic kids who function decently until adolescence (I don’t know if that fits your ds or not).

That's him exactly.

[8filltheheart]

3 hours ago, Lecka said:

From currently reading the book, it says several places they see 80% having bipolar disorder in a 1st or 2nd degree relative on both the mother and father’s side, and in the other 20% they assume it’s there but not known, maybe because of adoption.  

There is zero bipolar anywhere on either side of our family.  (There isn't autism, either, that we are aware of, but my parents were older when I was born, so definitely not something that was diagnosed back then.  Anxiety and depression, however, my mom and a couple of my siblings suffered from both.)

3 hours ago, Lecka said:

Honestly it is appalling that there would be a diagnosis that way, and in the meantime, what was missed that would have been appropriate!!!!!!!!!!!

Exactly what happened.   

Edited February 27 by 8filltheheart

[Ivey]

The Bipolar Child was recommended to me when my youngest was diagnosed with Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder. My takeaway was that the author was basically describing DMDD and laying out the argument for it to be considered a separate diagnosis - years before it was actually added to the DSM. It seems to me that many children who would have been diagnosed with "early onset bipolar disorder" previously are now being diagnosed with DMDD.

[Ottakee]

I have a child that was ex at age 3 with bipolar and now 2 decades later it still is an appropriate diagnosis.

Doctor did lots of medical tests, family history (positive for bipolar and schizophrenia plus others), etc.   we went with mood disorder NOS for quite a while.

on proper meds individual is doing much better than ever expected and few would know there is a mood disorder.

so for me, the book described my child to a T and diagnosis was accurate but I would want a very experienced psychiatrist who rules out a lot of other things first 

[Lecka]

Thank you @Ivey and @Ottakee, that is helpful information.