How does a doctor sort out whether a child has bipolar disorder?

Making an accurate diagnosis is difficult and requires careful evaluation, which in some cases can take years. That's because bipolar disorder overlays with other disorders in a spectrum of symptoms. Reported symptoms like impulsivity, hyperactivity, depression or irritability may suggest a range of possible diagnoses. In addition, reports from parents, teachers and friends about a child's behavior are not always totally reliable. And a doctor also needs to figure out what are normal childhood stresses and anxieties and what are the actual sympoms that need treatment. There is no clear scientific answer on what to do. MORE: Comments from experts interviewed for this FRONTLINE report -- ... Dr. David Axelson of the University of Pittsburgh explains the steps and time required to determine whether a child has bipolar disorder. ... Child psychiatrists/researchers Dr. Kiki Chang and Dr. David Shaffer also talk about the challenges in diagnosing. Chang notes that irritability is an importan ... more