Hot on HuffPost Parents:
Mom In Labor During Tornado: 'I Opened My Eyes And I Could See Out…
Christie O. Tate: I Love and Welcome My Daugther's Rage
Children of Bipolar Parents at Risk for Mental Disorders, Study Shows
Filed under: In The News, Research Reveals: Teens
The Parents' Curse: "I hope you have children just like you!"
There may be a scientific basis for that. If your child's temper tantrums and assorted fits are frazzling your last nerve, it could be because he or she is a sort of mini-you.
Reuters Health reports frequent tantrums can be an early sign of something more serious, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or oppositional defiant disorder, inherited as a result of a bipolar parent.
Bipolar disorder is characterized by severe mood swings from depression to mania.
A new study published in the latest issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry concludes that young children with a bipolar parent are eight times more likely than other children to develop ADHD and six times more likely to develop two or more mental disorders.
Researchers, led by Dr. Boris Birmaher of the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic in Pittsburgh, compared 121 children (ages 2 to 5) from 83 bipolar parents with 102 children of the same age from 65 parents with no bipolar symptoms. In the second group, they also excluded parents who had ever been diagnosed with other mental disorders. Children of bipolar parents had more significant manic and depressive symptoms than the other children.
Diagnosing preschoolers with bipolar disorder is controversial. However, Reuters Health reports, researchers cite previous studies where preschoolers were reliably diagnosed as young as age 2.
Researchers tell Reuters that parents with bipolar disorder may see behavior in their children that reminds them of their own. Their concern is justified, according to the study.
"The single largest risk factor for the development of bipolar disorder is a positive family history of the disorder," the study notes.
Early detection of mental disorders is important, Birmaher tells Reuters. Early intervention to help preschoolers regulate their moods has been effective in dealing with disruptive behavior and coping with later signs of mood disorders, he adds.
Effective treatment "may diminish the severity of and perhaps delay or prevent the new onset of" similar problems in preschoolers of bipolar parents, he tells the news service.
Related: Bipolar Disorder In Children And Teens
Your<span>Voice</span>
Ask Us Anything About Parenting
TheTalkies:RelatedVideos
-
Understanding Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Dr. Sherwood discusses school violence, and what is post traumatic stress disorder
-
Pregnancy and Birth: Post Birth Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post traumatic stress disorder can affect women who have experienced a birth that for all intents and purposes was "normal".
-
Girl With Rare Disorder Able To Say 'I Love You' To Mother
Girl With Rare Disorder Able To Say 'I Love You' To Mother
-
Child Mental Health Disorder and Parental Guilt
Dr. Harold Koplewitz explains why you, the parent, are not the reason fot your child's mental health disorders.
SitesWeLove
- Site Map
- |
- Staff
- |
- Terms of Service
- |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Trademarks
- |
- Advertise With Us
- |
- About Our Ads
- |
- AOL Downloads
- |
- Contact Us
- |
© Copyright 2012 AOL Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Aol Family
ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
1-31-2010 @ 7:07AM
Wendy said...This study is so miniscule that it shouldn't even be put in writing. There are however, huge studies showing that 90% of people with addictive behavior are bipolar and that bipolar disorder is indeed hereditary. And who in the heck coined the term ODD (Oppositional Defiance Disorder)? Someone writing a thesis for a college course, no doubt! It is my opinion that this is a 'catch-all' phrase for kids being kids. STOP the madness!
Reply
1-27-2011 @ 1:51AM
Ponting said...The post on the Bipolar Disorder in children is really informative. If one has a question that will the children suffer from bipolar disorder whose parents are suffering form it? He can get an idea from this post.
www.disorderscentral.com/bipolar-disorder-in-children.html
Reply