Books : Understanding the Mind of Your Bipolar Child: The Complete Guide to the Development, Treatment, and Parenting of Children with Bipolar Disorder
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Type of bind: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 618.92895
Format: Bargain Price
Label: St. Martin's Press
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 384
Printing Date: November 14, 2006
Publishing house: St. Martin's Press
Release Date: November 14, 2006
Sale Popularity Level: 1018522
Studio: St. Martin's Press
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“Bipolar disorder is a manageable condition, one that is more manageable the earlier it is recognized and the more comprehensively it is treated. The better parents understands how Bipolar disorder affects their child’s mind, affects how a child takes in the world, and affects how a child reacts to its complex demands the better parents can help their child.
I have been diagnosing and treating children with Bipolar disorder for many years, and have seen a great many of these children go on to live happy and productive lives—not just children who were bright and personable but also those who struggled with learning disorders, intense anxiety, isolation from peers, substance abuse, enormous irritability, and overwhelming anger. Despite their many difficulties, most of these children also have powerful gifts for empathy, imagination, inventiveness, and productivity that they have learned to use to their best advantage.
The greatest gift you can give your child is understanding. Yet a child with a Bipolar disposition is sometimes very difficult to understand. My goal in writing this book is to increase your knowledge of the disorder, its treatments, and how you as a parent can be most helpful to your child. I’ll explain both the biological and developmental aspects of the disease, because if you can grasp the link between your child’s biology and his development you can help him cope with the impact the condition has on the growth of his personality and of his mind.
When you have finished reading this book you will have a complete picture of Bipolar disorder, ranging from infancy through adolescence including the impact of Bipolar disorder on your child’s development, as well as the need for professional diagnosis and psychiatric and psychotherapeutic treatment. This book will enable you to better understand your child and provide effective support every step of the way.”
-from the Introduction Bipolar disorder is one of the most frequently diagnosed youth mental health diseases. Up to one-third of the 3.4 million children and adolescents with depression in the United States may actually be experiencing the early onset of bipolar disorder. Also, up to 15% of US Children diagnosed with ADHD may actually be suffering from early-onset bipolar disorder instead. Bipolar disorder has an effect not only on a child’s mood and behavior but on the way the world comes at them and, consequently, on the way they think. The intensity with which a bipolar child perceives things can be the source of creativity and artistic talent, but it can also be a source of confusion and disorganization. If parents can understand the effects of bipolar disorder on their child, they can help him to better navigate school, friendships, and family relationships.
Dr. Lombardo provides comprehensive information on:
Diagnosis
Developmental Issues
Disorders that go hand-in-hand with Bipolar including ADHD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Treatment – including psychotherapy and medication
Understanding the Mind of the Bipolar Child is essential reading for any parent who wants to best help their child who has received this diagnosis. Gregory T. Lombardo, M.D., Ph.D. is board certified in adult and in child and adolescent psychiatry; and a Diplomate of the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology. He is highly trained in and practices both the biological diagnosis, the clinical psychopharmacology, and the psychotherapeutic treatment of children with bipolar disorder. Additionally, he has a background in teaching and writing literature at the college and secondary school level. His experience treating bipolar children psycho-pharmacologically and psychotherapeutically is a crucial source of his understanding of the mind of the bipolar child. He also collaborates closely with psychologists and other therapists in the treatment of children with this disorder.
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers -
This book helps both the parent of a bipolar child as well as the trained professional. It is an insight into the illness written in a way that is easy to follow, yet full of extremely valuable information. I have purchased many copies of this book in order to pass this information on to those parents I know who are struggling with their bipolar children. The idea of being a "good enough" parent has really helped me with my own daughter. I would highly recommend this book to anyone in search of information, or purely curiosity. It is an excellent read.
Rated by buyers -
I am a psychologist who works with bipolar adolescents and adults and I think this book is the best I have read on this topic.
This is a kind and gentle book that shows great understanding of the problems and strengths of the bipolar child. This is a wonderfully written book without jargon, which accurately describes the good, the hard and the complicated of being a child or raising a child with this disease. This book also deals with the secondary problems children face such as drug and alcohol use and other risk taking behaviors.
The author describes in detail how such children function from preschool through young adulthood. There is an important section of the difference between bipolar disorder and ADD. And, there are clear recommendations as to how to deal with the difficulties bipolar children have in ways that don't punish the child or the parent.
Actually, his suggestions are great for parents with children who are not bipolar.
What comes across is this is a caring book written by a caring doctor.
Rated by buyers -
I am a child and adolescent psychiatrist and just recently sat down to read the book cover to cover. Dr. Lombardo is a gifted teacher who presents ideas and concepts in such a fashion that the recommendations he gives to parents make sense. I especially was glad that he acknowledges that parents need to be good enough, not perfect. As Dr. Lombardo phrased it: "perfect is the enemy of good" (pg 62). I think this is very validating to parents of bipolar children who all too often get unspoken messages from others that defective parenting skills are the cause of the bipolar's child's behaviors. As if in a "hats off" to parents of bipolar children, Dr. Lombardo states: "It takes courage to acknowledge the presence of bipolar disorder, in ourselves and in our children....Courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability to do the right thing in the presence of fear" (pg 276).
Rated by buyers -
I am a psychotherapist with some 20 years of experience, but I do not deal directly with children. I was drawn to this book in an effort to learn more about a field that is outside my own. I found it to be an amazing work. In the very first place,it makes a major contribution to the problems raised in understanding and parenting a bipolar child. It presents the very latest knowledge in the field,in clear and lucid language, beautifully organized and wholly understandable to the lay person. I found it particulary useful because it also deals with the positive aspects of this illness, such as the extraordinary sensitivity and creativity that many of these children manifest. Its coverage is complete, extending from infancy into adolescence. But beyond that, it successfully places those problems in the much broader context of human psychological and personality development in general. For example, the chapter dealing with saying "No" to young children contains a brilliant analysis applicable to all children or even,for that matter, to adults. At the end of the book there is a thorough discusion of the many different types of treatment available, together with a reference guide to the latest medications. I can recommend it without hesitation both to parents and professionals. Indeed, I will be recommending this book to those of my own patients who have problems with their children, even though they may not necessarily be diagnosed as bipolar.
Rated by buyers -
I?m a parent that tackles family problems with books, support groups, therapy, whatever it takes. I read Dr. Lombardo?s book only 6 months or so into the diagnosis of bipolar disorder for my 13 year old son, after the nightmarish depressions, poor and nasty psychiatrists, after reading 4 books -- The Bipolar Child (twice), Acquainted with the Night, Jamison?s book (can?t remember the name), and some other book on alternative therapies for bipolar disorder and other mental illnesses, and after spending countless hours talking to parents online and learning about meds, side effects, behavioral issues.
As a single parent, with an MA and a PhD in fields of psychology and education, I can honestly tell you that I learned quite a bit from Dr. Lombardo?s book. Here?s what I found?.
The perspective Dr. Lombardo has on child development as a teacher, psychiatrist, and one who has suffered from bipolar disorder greatly enhances, and lends credibility to his ability to differentially diagnose typical and atypical behaviors in children. Furthermore, the information on the differential diagnosis of ADHD versus BP from the neurological and behavioral perspective was very clearly presented, highly informative, and points to the need for expert care for children with these disorders.
The overall developmental approach is extremely valuable because, behaviors and life issues change through development, and is helpful to look ahead to see what might be coming along. Additionallly, some of the more subtle behavioral and cognitive issues that children with BP face is discussed and NOT COVERED in the other books I?ve read ? including a discusion of the concomitant disorders that some kids face along with bipolar disorder.
The review of the meds was excellent, partitioned clearly, and will be a helpful resource guide. As for the structure, I overall liked the format, where some of the critical issues are set out from the rest of the text. Only boring part for me was some of the case studies ? written more for a psychiatric textbook than for a parent.
All in all, I found the book to be an excellent companion to the Bipolar Child and highly recommend it ?. For the novice parent and the ?experienced parent?. I also think this book should be required reading for school psychologists and social workers! At least one of these 2 books, please.
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