Study Finds Sharp Increase In Bipolar Diagnosis In Children

Boston (dBTechno) -  According to a new report, more children are being treated for bipolar disorder than ever before.

The study from Columbia University found there has been a forty-fold increase in the number of children diagnosed with bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression.

The number of times a child went to the doctor and was diagnosed with the disorder rose from 20,000 visits in 1994 to 800,000 in 2003, said the studies authors.

Researchers say the increase could be due to a number of different factors. One possible explanation is either over diagnoses now, or under diagnoses in the past. Anther likely reason for the surge is an increase in marketing bypharmaceutical companies.

Bipolar disorder has remained a sensitive subject in the medical field when pertaining to children. Many doctors believe that the condition does not exist in children.

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in a person’s mood, energy, and ability to function.