Blended Families
Hopeforthebest
member
Is being diagnosed bi-polar hereditary?
Hopeforthebest
member
I'm sorry for the broad question, and how utterly dumb I am going to sound. I have ZERO knowledge about bi-polar disease/diagnosis. I'm curious though if a parent is diagnosed with it, if that is something to watch out for in a child.
Thanks.
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Re: Is being diagnosed bi-polar hereditary?
Yes,
And in some studies: the child has an increased risk for autism, depression, and other mental/mood disorders.
Yes, but also...
one way they "diagnose" bi-polar is if you have a family history that includes bi-polar, so if you tell a doctor that you have a family history of bi-polar disorder, that increases your chance of a positive diagnosis.
My niece's BF was diagnosed with it during my sister's pregnancy and their separation. They've been divorced since she was just months old. She lives with my sister at my parents house and has a perfectly wonderful life. She didn't have visitation or much contact with the BF for the first year or so but that was because he didn't want any part of her life at that age. She is almost 5 now and has had regular EOW visitations for some time but lately her demeanor has been erratic. One minute she is mean as fire to my mom or my sister then the next her normal sweet self. I will do a lot more research but it so out of character for her and seems like the last 2 months after visitations it's gotten much worse. Not blaming the BF but it was just such dramatic change, it got me thinking.
5 yr olds should not be diagnosed with bi-polar disorder. Typically ppl in their teens or early 20's are diagnosed. The "standard age" used to be 15 before this diagnosis was given but I have clients younger than that with this dx.
If your sister is concerned, she can request a psych eval but as PP said, episodes are often long lasting, manic or depressive. Your niece could simply be reacting to a change in her schedule. Please tread lightly as children are getting younger and younger with major diagnoses that you just can't work yourself out of.
Bi-polar disorder does not normally even exhibit as such later teen or adult ages. Often, a child may exhibit depression or signs similar to ADHD. Bi-polar disorder is difficult to diagnose and can even be dangerous to diagnose. People who suffer from BPD cannot take depression medicine alone, they must have a mood stabilizer as well. Younger people often are diagnosed after a stand alone depression medicine causes suicidal thoughts. Doctors often try more than one depression med before offering a mood stabilizer with it.
I was diagnosed with BPD in a similar way. After going through several different depression medicines that had various (horrible) effects on me, they offered me a mood stabilizer along with an antidepressant.
After my last suicide attempt, I refused to try anything else. Through therapy I have learned how to deal with it. And because my DH also has first hand experience with it, he has been a wonderful aid.
My father has it also, and he worries that even though I can control it now, that if I do not get on a mood stabilizer, I will get worse. That is what happened to him. He did not think he needed the medicine early on, but by the time it was apparent he did, it was too late and he did a terrible awful thing. Now that he is on appropriate medication, he is much better.
I have not talked to a doctor recently about my father's concerns, but a few years ago, my doctor at the time told me that if therapy was helping and I was able to control it on my own, medication was not needed. But he warned me to listen to friends' and family's opinions about how well I was controlling it and to seek further help if things started getting out of control, even slightly.
I never think of BPD as a crutch or an excuse for anything. I've paid enough attention to it that I can feel when my manic phases are coming to an end and I prepare for a drop. It feels horrible, sick even. But my husband is a wonderful supporter. My lows are not quite so bad if I can work out my last days of "manic mode," as we have started calling it. I get lots of things done and cleaned and organized and everything in that period and cannot sit still or quit talking and fidgeting. But if I am not in a position where I can work out my last day or two of manic mode, then I drop off very quickly and get horribly mean. I'm pretty good at steering away from everyone until I'm feeling calmer.
That was a little more than "Is it hereditary?" But my father has it and so do I, so.... yeah.
This doesn't sound like bi-polar to me. But it definitely sounds like there's something going on, or something changed.
My dad is bi-polar and my sister is bi-polar/ADHD. I struggled with a mild case of PPD/anxiety after DS. I think I'd would look into a cause first. Also play therapy may help her get her feelings out with a "safe" adult. I talked with my counselor at school vs my mom because I didn't want to hurt either parent.