For adults, the DSM-IV only requires a presentation of mania for a diagnosis of bipolar 1. There is no specific mention of a depressed episode having to occur for this diagnosis. Maybe the FDA is following the same practice for bipolar children.

tony, good point. my understanding though is that for a doc to do that with bp 1 then the mania needs to be really really present--and that does happen--but that they reassess the dx later in light of whatever evidence they have of depression.

i just find it odd that the fda and aacap would make things so focused on 'mania' in kids when they are putting out basic diagnostic info.

Here's my guess: mania is more annoying = more desire to medicate into submission. Just a jaundiced guess.

This global mass hallucination of labeling brain diseases in kids has got to stop. This kids will die. My god, I just read the post below, 2million kids on major tranquilizers. Shocking stuff.

Psychiatry is committing genocide. Generation RX-ocide.

This is enough to make you deeply depressed until this obscenity ends.

I cannot share the planet with these killers.

I wouldn't kid yourself about 'docs' labeling bp with one psychosis and one only to work on.

I got labeled bp after one psychosis, with a postive amphetamine test, and a death in the family.

Brief reactive amphetamine psychosis anybody?

No, of course I needed to be handed a cross to bear for the rest of my life in the form of a permanent bp label and smear.

I wish I lived in another time, and another place. These poor innocent kids are going to be broken on the wheel, the death of a thousand cuts.

I cannot share the planet with these killers.

WHAT are we gonna do to stop this? How are we gonna stop this.

What's the difference between precociousness and mania?

Used to be about 8 years. Now I think its lipstick.

I ask myself what is the role of FDA.
Food and Drug Administration.
In my understanding this should be the institution that would take care of the following:

SSRIs:
- side effects: - example - SSRIs causing suicides; homicides; sexual dysfunctions - at a point that some people claim they lost their imagination, their fantasies (in the SSRIs Yahoo group there are many testimonies of men that say that they do not get aroused seeing erotic images that used to produce an great impact after SSRI).

These three side effects show clearly that these drugs affect something that is still not known;

- side effects lasting after quitting the drug;

- withdrawal symptoms: I'm sure FDA knows how hard it's to withdraw SSRIs, a process that can last 18 months, and that some people have to go back to the drug after many months in the hell of withdrawal;

- many people don't overcome depression using SSRIs and end up taking ECT;

These problems have already so many evidences, so many testimonies, so many data that it's beyond comprehension the reason why FDA remains silent.

It seems to me FDA is much more concerned in approving drugs than controlling them after they are on the market.

As far as other psych-drugs are concerned there are also many evidences that if FDA was listening, at least to physicians and patients reports, many measures should already have be taken to regulate the use of these drugs.
I cannot understand laboratories concealing data of clinical trials.

I know I'm saying the obvious. That's the problem:

Why FDA is not paying any attention to the obvious?

It's madness.
I stopped taking lexapro 2 months ago, i'm sicker than ever and i keep forgetting EVERYTHING.
I'm only 18 and i don't know what has happened.