Possible Bi-polar disorder

[Levitron]

Hi Dr. Gould,

What can be done if a child is acting in a bipolar way but is totally resistant to psychological intervention?

Are there a 'top five or 10' behavioral syndrone that almost always indicate bipolar disorder?

Thank you.

Levitron

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

I encourage you to stop thinking about diagnostic categories. they are only marginally useful for professionals and totally confusing for nonprofessionals.  Focus on the behavior and the causes of the behavior.  If your child is moody and irritable and depressed, then try to enter into a dialogue with your child about that and how he or she behaves.  

[Tink70]

Go to the library and do some reading.  Get on line and do some reading.  There is a wealth of information out there on this subject.  Each child is unique but Bi Polar does have a certain set of "characteristics".    And if the child is an adolescent - it is even harder to figure out.
Good Luck