The Diagnosis Of Pediatric Bipolar Disorder - 1810 Words

The Diagnostic Statistical Manual has added a new diagnosis to its fifth addition in hopes to correct the misdiagnosing of Pediatric Bipolar Disorder in children (Margulies et al.). In less than a decade, the rates of Bipolar Disorder diagnosis in children and adolescents in the United States of America has increased 40-fold in both inpatient and outpatient settings (Rao). The reality is that most of these diagnoses are false because children with severe irritability are unlikely to also exhibit manic or hypomanic episodes (Lochman). Bipolar disorders incorporate both â€Å"poles† meaning both severe irritability and manic or hypomanic episodes. Contrarily, the new diagnosis of Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder is unipolar in the sense†¦show more content†¦These criteria must occur at least twelve months or more in at least two settings. The diagnosis should not be made prior to age six or after age eighteen with the age of onset occurring prior to ten years old. The American Journal of Psychiatry defines the disorder analogously to the DSM-5 description. The American Journal of Psychiatry states the criteria as frequent (three or more) severe temper outbursts combined with persistently negative mood between outbursts (Copeland). These symptoms must also be present for at least twelve months in multiple settings. The child must be at least six years old for a diagnosis and the onset of the symptoms must be prior to age ten. The symptoms of Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder have a significant impact on how a child behaves in all settings. According to the DSM-5, DMDD is associated with disruption in the child’s family and peer relationships, as well as in school performance. A child with DMDD has at least three temper outbursts a week, which are often triggered by the child’s low frustration tolerance. Due to low frustration tolerance, a child with DMDD might have trouble participating in challenging activities typically e njoyed by healthy children. Since the diagnosis can only be made after the child turns six, a child diagnosed with DMDD will most likely be in elementary school or higher. If a child was to have a temper outburst in class, he or she might be taken out of the classroom