Comparing apples to oranges, children vs. adults, Childhood Bipolar Disorder

"The misguided fear-mongers who criticize them invariably have proved to be too lazy to talk to parents of bipolar kids, much less read their book."

When I read this today on by John McManamy's bipolar blog; I was disappointed.

For each parent he may meet on his book tour, there are thousands more out there with stories that reflect less than desirable outcomes as a result of being diagnosed with Childhood Bipolar Disorder at a young age. Childhood years lost, teen years lost.
Some, like my daughter, were misdiagnosed and placed on adult approved psychiatric medications while their brains and bodies grew, without data in place to understand long-term effects in children using medications such as Depakote, Zyprexa, Risperdal, Zoloft, just to name a few of what my daughter was placed on by psychiatrists. The lack of data and diagnostic criteria for children still exists.

Here is my response to his blog entry:

"Live, On the Road, In the Big Apple"

read John's Blog here


My daughter was diagnosed with childhood bipolar disorder at age 11.[in 1999]. The diagnosis was deemed rock solid and based on an Imipramine-induced psychosis. Within one 30 minute appointment, a psychiatrist dx her O.C.D., then placed her on Luvox and Melleril. Within days she was inpatient in a psychiatric hospital. The dx was then changed to Bipolar Disorder and she was discharged at age 11 with Dekapote, Zyprexa and Zoloft. 18 months of new behavior which included raging, and meltdowns, which she never presented with before psychiatric medications were given to her. In 2001, I read the Bipolar Childbook and called the psychiatrist and told him I believed she was reacting to the Zoloft. While inpatient, her psychiatrist consulted with Demitri Papolos via telephone. Demitri concurred with my theory regarding the Zoloft, and also advised to keep an eye on female hormones.The Zoloft was removed and the dx was left in place along with Depakote and Zyprexa.

In 2006, another inpatient psychiatrist with over 30 years of experience, confirmed she had permanent damage from Depakote use in the form of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, and removed the bipolar diagnoses completely after inpatient observation in a well-regarded hospital for 6 weeks.

I am a parent of a 19 year old child that is part of the generation of children that are just starting to show outcomes and results of psychiatric medication use in growing bodies and brains.

I appreciate the time any person devotes to something they believe in with passion. I also feel it is reckless abandon of thought to diagnose children based on adult criteria for bipolar disorder.

I find it reckless as well, to promote these fairly new medications, such as Zyprexa, as cutting edge treatment in children. My daughter has suffered a loss no one can replace, growing up on adult psychiatric medications. I fear children, such as Rebecca Riley will be medicated without consideration to growing brains and bodies.

In my opinion, there has not been sufficient time to remotely study these children.

We can start with my daughter and her 2 friends, who are 19 years old, who were diagnosed with Childhood Bipolar Disorder, and all 3 placed on Depakote and Zyprexa.[in 1999]. I would like to hear them speak at a NAMI convention.

I'm pretty sure parents will not be calling these young adults "The misguided fear-mongers."

The tragic death of Rebecca Riley should be a wake up call, to stop, look, and listen.In this case I strongly believe what applies to children does not apply to adults.