Is Your Child Bipolar?: The Definitive Resource on How to Identify, Treat, and Thrive with a Bipolar Child »

Mary Ann McDonnell, A.P.R.N., B.C., is the executive director of S.T.E.P. Up 4 Kids, a nonprofit organization supporting children and teens with bipolar disorder. A clinical university instructor, she also maintains a private practice in pediatric psychopharmacology.

Janet Wozniak, M.D., is the director of Pediatric Bipolar Research at Massachusetts General Hospital, and assistant professor of psychiatry there and at Harvard Medical School.

The Definitive Resource on How to Identify, Treat, and Live with a Bipolar Child

More than three million American children suffer from some form of bipolar disorder, a life-impairing illness that can cause wild mood swings and even episodes of rage. But as a parent, can you tell the difference between a tempermental, moody child and one facing serious mental illness? Where do you turn if your child’s tantrums and meltdowns are wreaking havoc? For families as well as professionals, here is the only book on early- onset bipolar disorder written by pediatric specialists who combine clinical care and research.

Health experts once thought bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, did not exist in children and teens. However, leading experts like Janet Wozniak and Mary Ann McDonnell have shown that the illness may appear even before age six, with many cases either undiagnosed or misdiagnosed as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Now, in the most complete and authoritative guide yet, Janet Wozniak, M.D., and psychiatric nurse Mary Ann McDonnell offer their unmatched expertise along with the latest information on this difficult condition.

Drawing from their professional experience and sharing stories of families in their practices, the authors guide you in how to:
•Navigate the “diagnosis tangle” to ensure accurate identification of the disorder
•Communicate effectively with doctors, teachers, and counselors
•Find allies and choose a treatment team
•Help your family cope

In a rapidly changing field, The Bipolar Disorder clearly explains what researchersknow, what they suspect, and where studies now point. From medication to coping strategies, this accessible book offers inspiration, encouragement, and invaluable wisdom for all involved.

Mary Ann Hughes - Library Journal

Until about ten years ago, psychiatrists believed that the onset of bipolar disorder (previously called manic-depression illness) occurred in early adulthood. Today experts recognize that children and teenagers, too, can get the disease. Psychiatric nurse McDonnell and child psychiatrist Wozniak's book on parenting bipolar children stands out from the many other books available on the topic. First, there is an informative chapter on the tendency for bipolar children also to suffer from other psychiatric conditions (e.g., attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, Asperger syndrome), a relatively new development. Another of the book's promising features is its extended discussion of how parents can help teachers and doctors understand what their bipolar child is experiencing. While other books touch on this topic, the authors here instruct parents on how to keep a journal in concrete and detailed language that documents a bipolar child's behaviors. Those sick of hearing that their child's excessive aggression or talkativeness is "normal" will welcome this book as a tool to help them persuade others of the seriousness of the situation. A prudent choice for most public libraries.

Preface     ix
Acknowledgments     xiii
Lost in the Maze     1
Diagnosis Tangle: Is it Really-Or Only-Bipolar?     13
Spinning Star: What Bipolar Disorder Looks Like in Kids     42
The Whose-Fault Pitfall: What Causes Bipolar Disorder?     67
Sound Barrier: How to Talk So Your Doctor Will Hear     91
Hidden Allies: Finding the Right People for Your Child's Treatment Team     122
Treatment Twists and Turns: Finding the Best Treatment for Your Child     141
Doors and Detours: Finding Psychotherapy that Helps     196
Invisible Elephants: Education, Advocacy, and Ieps     212
Defending the Castle: Strategies for Thriving     249
Shock Wave: Coping with Danger and Crisis     282
Bibliography     312
Appendices     318
About the Authors     348
Index     349