Understanding the Mind of Your Bipolar Child: The Complete Guide to the Development, Treatment, and Parenting of Children with Bipolar Disorder

By Gregory T. Lombardo

Book Overview

"Bipolar disorder""is a""manageable condition," "one that is more manageable the earlier it is recognized and the more comprehensively it is treated. The better parents understands how Bipolar disorder affects their child's mind, affects how a child takes in the world, and affects how a child reacts to its complex demands the better parents can help their child.I have been diagnosing and treating children with Bipolar disorder for many years, and have seen a great many of these children go on to live happy and productive lives--not just children who were bright and personable but also those who struggled with learning disorders, intense anxiety, isolation from peers, substance abuse, enormous irritability, and overwhelming anger. Despite their many difficulties, most of these children also have powerful gifts for empathy, imagination, inventiveness, and productivity that they have learned to use to their best advantage. The greatest gift you can give your child is understanding. Yet a child with a Bipolar disposition is sometimes very difficult to understand. My goal in writing this book is to increase your knowledge of the disorder, its treatments, and how you as a parent can be most helpful to your child. I'll explain both the biological and developmental aspects of the disease, because if you can grasp the link between your child's biology and his development you can help him cope with the impact the condition has on the growth of his personality and of his mind.When you have finished reading this book you will have a complete picture of Bipolar disorder, ranging from infancy through adolescence including the impact of Bipolar disorder on your child's development, as well as the need for professional diagnosis and psychiatric and psychotherapeutic treatment. This book will enable you to better understand your child and provide effective support every step of the way." -from the Introduction Bipolar disorder is one of the most frequently diagnosed youth mental health diseases. Up to one-third of the 3.4 million children and adolescents with depression in the United States may actually be experiencing the early onset of bipolar disorder. Also, up to 15% of US Children diagnosed with ADHD may actually be suffering from early-onset bipolar disorder instead. Bipolar disorder has an effect not only on a child's mood and behavior but on the way the world comes at them and, consequently, on the way they think. The intensity with which a bipolar child perceives things can be the source of creativity and artistic talent, but it can also be a source of confusion and disorganization. If parents can understand the effects of bipolar disorder on their child, they can help him to better navigate school, friendships, and family relationships. Dr. Lombardo provides comprehensive information on: DiagnosisDevelopmental IssuesDisorders that go hand-in-hand with Bipolar including ADHD, Oppositional Defiant DisorderTreatment - including psychotherapy and medication" ""Understanding the Mind of the Bipolar Child" is essential reading for any parent who wants to best help their child who has received this diagnosis. Gregory T. Lombardo, M.D., Ph.D. is board certified in adult and in child and adolescent psychiatry; and a Diplomate of the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology. He is highly trained in and practices both the biological diagnosis, the clinical psychopharmacology, and the psychotherapeutic treatment of children with bipolar disorder. Additionally, he has a background in teaching and writing literature at the college and secondary school level. His experience treating bipolar children psycho-pharmacologically and psychotherapeutically is a crucial source of his understanding of the mind of the bipolar child. He also collaborates closely with psychologists and other therapists in the treatment of children with this disorder.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 031235889X
• ISBN13: 9780312358891
• Release Date: November 2006
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 1.58 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.4" x 1.3" x 6.5"

Customer Reviews

Suzanne C. Simon -- psychotherapist

I am a psychotherapist with some 20 years of experience, but I do not deal directly with children. I was drawn to this book in an effort to learn more about a field that is outside my own. I found it to be an amazing work. In the first place,it makes a major contribution to the problems raised in understanding and parenting a bipolar child. It presents the very latest knowledge in the field,in clear and lucid language, beautifully organized and wholly understandable to the lay person. I found it particulary useful because it also deals with the positive aspects of this illness, such as the extraordinary sensitivity and creativity that many of these children manifest. Its coverage is complete, extending from infancy into adolescence. But beyond that, it successfully places those problems in the much broader context of human psychological and personality development in general. For example, the chapter dealing with saying "No" to young children contains a brilliant analysis applicable to all children or even,for that matter, to adults. At the end of the book there is a thorough discussion of the many different types of treatment available, together with a reference guide to the latest medications. I can recommend it without hesitation both to parents and professionals. Indeed, I will be recommending this book to those of my own patients who have problems with their children, even though they may not necessarily be diagnosed as bipolar.

Parent/Educator

I?m a parent that tackles family problems with books, support groups, therapy, whatever it takes. I read Dr. Lombardo?s book only 6 months or so into the diagnosis of bipolar disorder for my 13 year old son, after the nightmarish depressions, poor and nasty psychiatrists, after reading 4 books -- The Bipolar Child (twice), Acquainted with the Night, Jamison?s book (can?t remember the name), and some other book on alternative therapies for bipolar disorder and other mental illnesses, and after spending countless hours talking to parents online and learning about meds, side effects, behavioral issues. As a single parent, with an MA and a PhD in fields of psychology and education, I can honestly tell you that I learned quite a bit from Dr. Lombardo?s book. Here?s what I found?. The perspective Dr. Lombardo has on child development as a teacher, psychiatrist, and one who has suffered from bipolar disorder greatly enhances, and lends credibility to his ability to differentially diagnose typical and atypical behaviors in children. Furthermore, the information on the differential diagnosis of ADHD versus BP from the neurological and behavioral perspective was very clearly presented, highly informative, and points to the need for expert care for children with these disorders. The overall developmental approach is extremely valuable because, behaviors and life issues change through development, and is helpful to look ahead to see what might be coming along. Additionallly, some of the more subtle behavioral and cognitive issues that children with BP face is discussed and NOT COVERED in the other books I?ve read ? including a discussion of the concomitant disorders that some kids face along with bipolar disorder. The review of the meds was excellent, partitioned clearly, and will be a helpful resource guide. As for the structure, I overall liked the format, where some of the critical issues are set out from the rest of the text. Only boring part for me was some of the case studies ? written more for a psychiatric textbook than for a parent. All in all, I found the book to be an excellent companion to the Bipolar Child and highly recommend it ?. For the novice parent and the ?experienced parent?. I also think this book should be required reading for school psychologists and social workers! At least one of these 2 books, please.

Best in field

Thank you Dr. Lombardo for writing a book which is user friendly for both professionals and laypersons to understand the development of the mind, brain, and behavior of persons diagnosed with bipolar disorder. This book fills a gap in the literature on how to diagnosis,treat and live with live with bipolar persons. By following some of Dr. Lombardo's practcal advice professionals and parents can enhance the self esteem and probability of success of the bipolar person and of the bipolar family. Dr. Lombardo truly understands what it means to be bipolar, to live with a bipolar relative and to be the therapist of a bipolar personality.His empathy is felt between the lines, his words reflect compassion and competency.As a professional psychologist with over 30 years of experience I would rate this book number 1 in its category. I recommend it to anyone who wants to understand what it is to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Barbara L. Blum, Ph.D.

very helpful and informative

I do lot of family therapy, and I supervise others who do family therapy, and the information here has proved very helpful in organizing my thinking about the problems children present, and how parents can best deal with them. The book is written well, and is accessible to professionals and parents. I have recommended this book to parents with bipolar children, and they tell me that it is very useful to them, as well. Dr. Lombardo describes the many confusing and related symptom pictures, which make treating these children and their families so challenging. He reviews developmental changes, parental strategies, uses of therapy, and the difficult pharmacological questions that arise. Overall, this is a job very well done. Charles Raps, Ph.D.

Bipolar Disorder: SPRING.

This book provides an outstanding, fully diagnostic view on what the bipolar child experiences during said childhood. It also provides parents, various interested peoples, family friends and so on, what signs of bipolar disorder to look for in your child (provided you/ those otherwise concerned) are concerned that there IS something that differentiates your child from the rest. This text provides the most up to date information regarding bipolar disorder in children, including a glossary of mood vs. personality disorders, as well as listing the current, most well-regarded medications, their side effects -and especially notably, their side effects in children vs. adults, and what the main goal the medication aims to assist. Dr. Lombardo weaves interesting vignettes about patients he has encountered along his course as a psychiatrist. These vignettes are quite helpful to the lay person who might still struggle to understand bipolar disorder, as they are all true stories of real patients and their experience as a person who suffers from bipolar disorder. They are clearly written. Entirely to the point. And, most importantly, they bring the "ball" of bipolar disorder together. Compared to its counterpart, the Bipolar Child, this text is only the second book on the market to truly focus on bipolar disorder in children. I believe it to be the best text on bipolar disorder in children because you do not need to be a doctor to read this, yet any professional in the medical community and those who are not versed at all in mood, or more broadly, mental disorders, will benefit GREATLY from reading this book. I found it to be quite profound, thoughtful and, especially, descriptive of this mental disorder. Dr. Lombardo clearly understands the disorder and he has an especially unique ability to observe children, bringing out the strings that eventually knot into the ball called bipolar disorder, and put it on paper to share humanity. If you have any sense that your child behaves differently from other children, pick up this text, read the first few pages, and you'll know if you're in the right territory. :) :) :)