treatment is psychotherapy. This is a very important stage and the reason it usually occurs after medication has stabilized the childs mood is because children experiencing rapid mood swings have not been found to benefit from counseling alone. Therapy issues include dealing with the stress that may trigger or worsen manic and depressive episodes. Counseling can also ensure the patients willingness to follow the prescribed course of treatment. A good therapy plan should include support and education about the illness. Children with a bipolar disorder have other needs that need to be taken into consideration. One of the main problems facing these children is the difficulties they face in school. The medication necessary to stabilize their moods often leaves them feeling fairly sedated. The childs functioning can vary throughout the school year, sometimes it varies daily, and they can easily fall behind other students. Parents should suggest a meeting between the special education staff of their childs school, the childs therapist, and themselves. Together, the best way to insure the childs educational development progresses smoothly is to put into action an Individualized Educational Program (IEP). This plan contains goals and objectives based upon the childs present educational level. The IEP also includes when the plan will begin, how long it will last, and the way in which the childs progress will be evaluated (LD OnLine: IEP: The Process). Bipolar disorder has left its mark on history. Many famous people have had symptoms of bipolar disorder; Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Tolstoy, and Hemingway to name a few. In fact, the biography of Beethoven discloses severe, recurrent mood swings beginning in childhood. In short, coming to a correct diagnosis of Childhood Onset Bipolar disorder can be very difficult and finding an effective treatment plan can be a long, drawn out process. However, if these obstacles are overcome, children ...
