Bipolar disorder may be at least as common among youth as among adults, according to a recent NIMH study. One-third of the 3.4 million US children and adolescents with depression may also be experiencing the early onset of bipolar disorder, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. In contrast to adults, children with bipolar disorder are more likely to be irritable and prone to destructive outbursts than to be elated or euphoric. When depressed, children with bipolar disorder may complain of headaches, stomachaches or tiredness. Poor performance in school, irritability, social isolation, and extreme sensitivity to rejection or failure are also tied to childhood bipolar disorder.
