arents of children with COBPD report that their children have seemed different from infancy. They describe difficulties calming their babies, and they relate that their children have always been very sensitive to sensory stimulation, i.e. sounds, lights, touches. Many children have extreme difficulty sleeping and some experience night terrors (Facts about Childhood-Onset Bipolar Disorder). A child suffering from COBPD may be easily frustrated and have terrible temper tantrums lasting until the child is literally exhausted. These children tend to be bossy and have trouble adjusting to new situations, especially situations that they have no control over. Some children with a bipolar disorder are extroverted and very charismatic while other children experience bouts of social phobia (extreme discomfort in a social situation). Without closer observation, hyperactive, irritable, distractible children are believed to have Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity (ADHD). As a matter of fact, a million children and adolescents in the United States may have COBPD, of these 1 million people, an estimated 23 percent are currently diagnosed with ADHD(Mitzi Waltz, Bipolar Disorders, 1st Edition January 2000) Attention Deficit disorder with hyperactivity and COBPD do have many of the same warning signs and symptoms. Persons diagnosed with ADHD experience an inability focusing attention on a task, or difficulty organizing tasks. They do not seem to listen when spoken to, have difficulty following instructions, avoid tasks that require mental effort, are easily distractible, experience recurrent forgetfulness, and repeatedly lose materials necessary to complete a task, i.e. books, tools, pencils. Dr. Demitri Papolos has stated that over eighty percent of children who have COBPD will meet the full criteria set by the DSM-IV for ADHD (Papolos and Papolos, The Bipolar Child). What differentiates the two disorders is the fact that children with a bipo...
