Once considered an adult illness, bipolar disorder (manic depression) is the fastest growing category in child psychiatry since ADHD, touching the lives of an estimated one million children. But often it goes misdiagnosed, and children can be prescribed medication that only worsens the condition. Parents are desperate for someone to guide the way through this difficult time. With her twenty-five years of clinical experience, child psychiatrist Rosalie Greenberg offers families a lifeline--a book filled with sage, practical, and reassuring advice for anyone struggling to help a child locate that elusive inner calm. With a revolutionary approach that sees the brilliance, the sweetness, the creativity in these kids, Dr. Greenberg gathers their stories, as well as their parents' stories, to open a window onto these children who have for so long gone misunderstood. She walks readers through the different scenarios that may occur with bipolar kids, from daring manic phases to sudden periods of overwhelming sadness. She spells out the "whys" behind the condition; shows parents how best to navigate the peaks and valleys of bipolar; and provides parents with the assurance that they need not tackle this illness alone. Most important, she encourages adults to listen to what children say through the maze of their mania and depression, for this can make all the difference in diagnosing and successfully managing bipolar. Bipolar Kids offers parents welcome understanding, guidance, and, most of all, hope that every child can--and should--lead a full, productive, and contented life.

Reviews

"I'm struck by Dr. Greenberg's remarkable empathy for parents and children weathering the storm of bipolar disorders! Through her commentary and case vignettes, she provides both information and support so vital to families. It's clear that Dr. Greenberg has been listening carefully to both the words and the music of the bipolar experience."
--Ruth E. Field, MSW, LCSW, Cofounder, Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation

"Dr. Greenberg has written a book filled with warmth and compassion for families struggling with childhood onset bipolar disorder. Using richly detailed clinical vignettes and weaving in findings from contemporary studies, Dr. Greenberg provides a critical framework for understanding this difficult disorder and obtaining comprehensive treatment. This book will be a lifesaver for families sruggling with the difficulties inherent to the diagnosisof childhood onset bipolar disorder."
--Mary A. Fristad, Ph.D., ABPP, coauthor of Raising A Moody Child: Hot to Cope with Depression and Bipolar Disorder

"With this book in hand parents will become more aware of the intricacies of this complex condition. Greenberg walks parents through a multitude of 'hidden symptoms.'. . . Although in and of themselves these clues don't herald the condition, they are among the many fascinating links to pediatric bipolar disorder that Greenberg explores through current research and her own clinical experience."
--Publishers Weekly

"Dr. Greenberg has done a great service to parents and professionals alike with her masterful book, Bipolar Kids. She offers a way of understanding such children by 'listening to the words, not just the music.' Clinical case studies from her extensive practice also offer valuable insight into the changing moods and interpersonal problems presented by bipolar children and their impact on families. I recommend this well-researched book to all those who wish to learn more about juvenile bipolar disorder."
--Clarice J. Kestenbaum, M.D., Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, Columbia University, and Past-President of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry