4 year old bipolar????????

jkaee · Apr 8, 2004

so a 4 year old is diagnosed with bipolar by a pediatrician, put on depakote........
what do you think????
child is unmanageable with any sort of discipline, will throw tantrums over an hour.......child hits himself and says "mommy hit me" ( right in front of others) child injures pets to the point of pet deformation. several specialists are sought out at this point in time, and the depakote has been upgraded to 250mg/ morning and 125mg night. ( with no change in behavior)
what do all of you psych nurses think??????? please............

Not a psych nurse, but have some experience with a child on Depakote. My oldest was put on it at about 5 years of age for petit mal seizures (per an EEG, although we never saw and of the classic s/s) and also because of attention/behavior type issues. She was on it for about a year, and if anything my daughters behavior and attention problems worsened on the medication. All the specialists told me that it would "help" her and it really didn't at all. She was weaned off after a "normal" EEG, and then another neurologist put her on Zoloft for an anxiety disorder. After a bunch of drs, therapist and even a $2000 neuropsychologist each telling us a bunch of different things, we said to hell with all of them and took her off the meds and stopped trying to put a label on her (ie: ADD, anxiety, depression, even Asbergers syndrome). She is who she is, and we deal with her differently than one may treat a typical 10 year old. Yeah, she has some quirks, but the temper tantrums and unreasonable anger have stopped. She is in learning support at school, and receives adapted PE and OT, but underneath she is still a normal kid. She struggles some because she can't do what other kids can (ride a bike, play sports well, etc.) but with a lot of work she learned to ride a scooter real well. So, she's managing and so are we.

Sorry to go on for so long.....brought back memories. While the child you mentioned sounds like he does have major issues (esp with hurting animals...that's a big red flag) sometimes big doses of potent meds isn't always the answer.

Jennifer

BRANDY LPN · Apr 8, 2004

I'll grant that it's very difficult to differentiate "normal" 2-year-old behavior from problematic behavior due to mental illness, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
luci

LOL I have a 8 , 6, and 2 year old, and you hve just confirmed my theory that 2 year olds are suffering from some sadistic mental illness.

Sorry for hijacking, consider it comic relief, and I will bow out now.

heart queen · Apr 8, 2004

Tom,wouldn't even know where to begin, so I'm hesitant to make you defensive and even firmer in these beliefs. :uhoh21:

While my experience had the psyc. hesitant to give a formal diagnosis until age 18. He did treat the symptoms with meds, and they work. The most difficult part is the multiple med. trials until the correct med is found. There is no easier way.

Also common, is misdiagnosing Bipolar as ADD/ADHD in younger children, until the teen years where the cycling is easier to identify, because personalities have been forming, changes easier to identify.

Just my humble opinion, this child (from the little info I have), shows dangerous behaviors to self and others. Inpatient therapy for safety is needed. Good luck

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Apr 9, 2004

Folks, let's make sure this thread stays useful. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, and please don't think that someone's opinion specifically means you and your family. Let's support each other.

bail · Apr 9, 2004

so a 4 year old is diagnosed with bipolar by a pediatrician, put on depakote........
what do you think????
child is unmanageable with any sort of discipline, will throw tantrums over an hour.......child hits himself and says "mommy hit me" ( right in front of others) child injures pets to the point of pet deformation. several specialists are sought out at this point in time, and the depakote has been upgraded to 250mg/ morning and 125mg night. ( with no change in behavior)
what do all of you psych nurses think??????? please............

Was this child diagnosed by a psychatirc pediatrician? I am a psch nurse, and I can't make a diagnosis, but this does not sound like bipolar to me. I agree with another post, with regard to a sepeartion anxiety disorder of some type. How is the child doing? How are the parents holding up? Are you getting counselling?

bail · Apr 9, 2004

I am a psych nurse. While I cannot make a diagnosis, this does not sound like bipolar disorder to me. I agree with another post with regard to a seperation anxiety disorder, or something like that. Are you as a family getting counselling as well? Is the child involved in any kind of behavioral modification program? How are you all doing?

bail