Mom to 5 yr old w/ bipolar/mood disorder - Bipolar Disorder Message Board

novmom · 03-14-2006, 12:25 PM

Hi all....

My name is Jes. I'm mom to two kids....my son is 5 and my daughter is 2.

Anyways, after months of going through testing, etc. My son was diagnoised as "possibly experiencing a bipolar disorder." The psychologist said we should just watch him.

The pediatrican agreed with the diagnosis and referred us to a psychiatrist.

They have started him on Depakote and has been on the medicine for a little over a month now. I have seen remarkable difference in him. We still have our moments, but they are not nearly as bad as they were before.

Now, here is where I'm confused. Both the ped and the psychiatrist said they are not going to go as far as to say it is "bipolar disorder" at this time. They are just going to call it mood disorder for now and will just see how it goes. My question is, what is the difference between the two??

Thanks...

BeckyPie7 · 03-14-2006, 01:55 PM

Hey,
Wow, I think that's great that they can catch it that earlier. Believe me...I wish I'd known but it took 23 years for me to be diagnosed.
Anyway, in answer to your question. Please keep in mind this is only my opinion and I'm no doctor. I believe that bipolar is a mood disorder but the term, "mood disorder" can encompase more than just bipolar for example depression is a mood disorder also. Anyway, the reason they are just calling it a mood disorder is because he's so young. Perhaps they don't want to slap a label on him and hope that their suspicions are either confermed or denied upon more time and growing older. Being bipolar is a huge label...i've found, and it is something you think about each and every single day of your life. They may be hoping it's a phase or will get better as he grows older and they don't want to just say that's what it is. At that age children still have a lot of developing to do and things will change though no one can say how as of right now. However, I think it's great that you're astute and picked up on his problems so early, you're doing the right thing by having this monitored and I hope that things continue to improve.

goody2shuz · 03-14-2006, 04:36 PM

Hi....I am going through the same exact thing with my 14 year old daughter....they cannot definitively diagnose her and are treating her as if she has a mood disorder and the traits that they see. I have been told that with kids, even in adolescence, they cannot clearly diagnose any particular disporder until around the age of 18. As a mom that is quite difficult to understand because we have that need to know what is going on so we can know that we are doing the right thing.

I was told that bipolar is considered to be a mood disorder or an affective disorder. Like Becky already said, there are many disorders that fit under these categories and depending upon what traits are demonstrated at a particular time they are treated as so.

With my daughter, I have been told that they are treating it as if it were a "mild bipolar II" without diagnosing it as so but having similar traits of depression and manic tendencies that is how they determined which meds would be best to start her on. I have been told that she will be monitored and most likely off the meds in about 6-8 months but that still has yet to be determined. From some of what I have read here, for the most part when you are clearly diagnosed with a true Bipolar you MUST be on meds. But then some are either misdiagnosed or only possess the traits of the disorder and treated accordingly as is the case with my daughter. So I guess that with both of us time will tell....you having more time than me!!

Since I am only new to this myself I can only share with you what I am going through. I do know as a mom all we want is to know that are kids are happy & healthy and so long as that is our driving force then everything should be okay.

I wish you luck with you son.

(((HUGS))) ~ Goody

Tylers_Mommy · 03-16-2006, 08:35 PM

Hello! I couldn't help but read this thread! This is exactally what they did to Jace intill my insurance wouldn't pay for Jace's meds unless the dx fit the meds. Then the doc was forced to dx him with BP or Jace could no longer have his meds.

I asked the same question to my doctor when he was dx mood disoder and my doc said the same as Becky had said eairler. Mood disorder is just a disturbance in ones emotions. When you look at the dx its pretty much the same as BP in my opinion, just in more broader terms.

Hope it all works out for yous!

Hugz, April Lynne

rids · 03-17-2006, 09:55 AM

Depakote is a seizure med. It depletes carnitine, which should be prescribed along with the Depakote.