Navigating Pediatric Mood Disorders: DSM-5’s DMDD and DSM-IV’s Pediatric Bipolar Disorder

what are the DSM diagnoses for pediatric bipolar disorder?

-bipolar 1-bipolar 2-cyclothymia

The latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) has replaced the term “pediatric bipolar disorder” with “disruptive mood dysregulation disorder” (DMDD) for children. DMDD is a condition that is characterized by severe and persistent irritability or anger, along with frequent outbursts that are grossly out of proportion compared to the situation.

However, the previous edition of the DSM (DSM-IV) did include a diagnosis for pediatric bipolar disorder, which is also known as bipolar disorder in children. According to DSM-IV, to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a child had to meet the following criteria:

– Have had at least one manic or hypomanic episode
– The manic or hypomanic episode had to last for a minimum of four days in a row for hypomania, or one week for mania
– The mood disturbance had to be accompanied by at least three of the following symptoms (four if the mood is only irritable):
– grandiosity or inflated self-esteem
– decreased need for sleep
– increased talkativeness or pressure to keep talking
– racing thoughts or flight of ideas
– distractibility
– increased goal-directed activity or psychomotor agitation
– excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that have high potential for painful consequences (e.g. buying sprees, sexual indiscretions)

It is important to note that while bipolar disorder is a serious and complex mental illness, the diagnosis requires careful evaluation and assessment by a mental health professional who specializes in child and adolescent psychiatry.

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