"A trusted source of vital information." is how CABF describes it's online community for parents in need of help caring for early onset-bipolar disorder.
This website bpkids.org has pharmaceutical funding backing it.

I totally agree with the statement "caution in the face of uncertainty."

What happens when parents are faced with a diagnoses of bipolar disorder in a child, in this day and age they hit the keys and 'google' for information.
When a parent comes across a few 'hits' that claim to be 'trusted sources' or 'must reads', they go there.
If no other information is out there, they listen to who is the latest, greatest and most vocal "as authority".

Medicating kids should be a last resort, and parents should be more informed regarding psychiatric medications and what the side effect(s)and /or possible damage could be done by taking them.

Therefore, the decision of whether or not the kid just needs more time, attention, or space...and knowing the medications can cause issues on their own.(be informed)
I am glad to see an entry discussing the current leading "authorities" popular to the masses, regarding bipolar in kids.

This is just my opinion, but parents: it's time to question authority.

Having been a bi-polar child (b.1961), and being the parent of a bi-polar child (b.1987), I see a marked difference in the amount of medication my son needs to feel comfortable relative to my own need. The earlier this disease is treated, the easier it is on the child as a child, adolescent, and adult. Think of all of the neuro-pathways that have been stopped in their tracks: so fewer chemicals required to treat the illness. I had trouble finding a physician who would prescribe meds to a 9 year old. My son should have had medication at birth. I had not been diagnosed yet, and didn't know what to call his "problem" which was all to familiar. You as a parent know your child best. If they are ill, you will treat them as needed. Get another opinion if neccessary. I think my youngest who is 8 may be suffering from depression. If he is, I will make sure he gets treatment. I am the authority.

Hi, I found your blog through Technorati.

You say the Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation "categorizes even the briefest of outburst by children as bipolar disorder." I disagree.

True, I work for CABF. This
is our most popular article on bipolar.

Here's an excerpt that I think sums up our position pretty well:
It is important to remember that a diagnosis is not a scientific fact. It is a considered opinion based upon the behavior of the child over time, what is known of the child's family history, the child's response to medications, his or her developmental stage, the current state of scientific knowledge and the training and experience of the doctor making the diagnosis. These factors (and the diagnosis) can change as more information becomes available. Competent professionals can disagree on which diagnosis fits an individual best. Diagnosis is important, however, because it guides treatment decisions and allows the family to put a name to the condition that affects their child. Diagnosis can provide answers to some questions but raises others that are unanswerable given the current state of scientific knowledge.

Not enough is known about child bipolar yet to have diagnosis or treatment be as easy or accurate as anyone would want it to be. What's important, though, is that 1)the more people know, the better they're able to decide what's right for their child 2)no one should have to suffer alone- the more support out there, whether organizations like CABF or other groups --- the better.

While I'm not some kind of spokesperson (I'm just the webmaster), I am glad to answer any questions you or anyone else might have about us.

Sincerely,
Shira Raider
CABF Webmaster

Shira said: "..an excerpt that I think sums up our position pretty well."

Shira said: "I'm not some kind of spokesperson."

This is my opinion, but making a statement claiming a "position" on a topic, does sound like a spokesperson. (not just a webmaster)

from the article Shira uses for CABF's position on Childhood Bipolar Disorder:

"Diagnosing Bipolar Disorder in Children

Healthy children often have moments when they have difficulty staying still, controlling their impulses, or dealing with frustration.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV (DSM-IV) still requires that, for a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, adult criteria must be met.

There are as yet no separate criteria for diagnosing children."

Another excerpt from the article:

"Diagnosis is important....allows the family to put a name to the condition that affects their child."

I find this to be a contradiction.

Due to "no separate criteria for diagnosing children.", how can a family have a name of a condition that affects their child, when the article clearly states, that their is no accurate diagnostic criteria?

What is alarming to me, is that children are being diagnosed bipolar, based on adult criteria from the DSM, and being treated with medications approved for adults.

Without any studies or data showing long-term effects of these medications in a growing child's body and brain.

By "not a spokesperson", I mean I am not speaking in any official capacity, I only speak for myself. I just thought disclosing who I work for was the right thing to do.

There have been many studies of bipolar disorder in both children and adults. Research bears out that it is a brain illness with a genetic component.

If a child was acting out because he had another brain illness, say,a tumor, would you say "oh, well, science isn't quite where I want it to be when it comes to a cure. I should just spank my child until he stops misbehaving?" What if the child was completely debilitated by the illness? Or, would you use the best methods available to treat the tumor and thank god people know way more about these illnesses than they did 5, 10, 20 years ago?

I am going to have to politely agree to disagree here Shira.

1. This is my personal opinion. It does not reflect on the CABF postition, or does it declare CABF and bpkids.org without merit.

2. As a former parent message board poster pre-2003; I will begin with the one part of your comment that I heard one too many time from the tone of that board; and psychiatrists.

3. It happens to be my biggest pet peeve.

"thank god people know way more about these illnesses than they did 5, 10 20 years ago?"

This promotion of medicating children, and assuring parents that "this is so much better" is something I was told time and time again and passed that onto my then 11 yr. old daughter. She is now 19 yrs. old, and I dare say the word is NO.

NO. Things are not any better than they were 5 years ago, 10 years ago. Or now.

The specific medication she was told as was I in that regard was Zyprexa. Everyone at bpkids.org encouraged parents to be so ever grateful, that this was after all invented in THEIR life time, and now they would not suffer.

My daughter has suffered, as a matter of fact her life is all but ruined as a result of medications as these, that leaves me no comfort at all.

I will never compare brain surgery and medications used in a child's brain. They are 2 separate issues, and this is what CABF pumped out to parents...but back then it was "cancer".
Would you ignore the cancer in your child, and not seek proper treatment? Yes, these are words parents like me (now this is my own opinion, and cannot and am not speaking about any bpkids.org parent, only myself)were suckered into believing.

I remember my daughter crying her eyes out and me comforting her with the words "be thankful a med like Zyprexa was invented just before you needed it."

Just for the record, I am "rose", and "stef" from the old "free" bpkids.org boards days.

I will leave it at that for now.