Quote From: liatsunami Your son was diagnosed at 4? Wow, that is pretty early. From my understanding it much less commmon infor an onset in young children than in adolescents and young adults. Given the strong family history though, it does not sound like a strange thing in your case. I'm curious....are they using the anti-psychotic as a mood stabilizer or was he actually having psychotic episodes?
Also if he was having psychotic episodes did the Dr.s do a test for schizoprenia? They can be linked disorders. In the future (especially in the teen years) I would advise you to watch for symptoms of schizoprenia(for example extreme paranoia or butterfly speech), it's always good to be cautious.
Ask your Dr. if there is any research about diet and the symptoms of bi-polar disorder. It might also help to monitor his behavior as indicators of his moods and record them in a journal if you can by day (make sure to note any changes). Be sure to discuss your findings with all of his Dr.s and psychologists ,. if there are any changes that seen odd to you let them know right away.
Good Luck
I actually havne't watched the show yet it's on the TIVO. But yes, 4 is very young, but from the research I've done along with the help of my son's medical team, it's not so much that's it young it's that it is often misdiagnosed as another disorder.
Currently he takes Risperdal, Trileptal, paxil, and to help him sleep clonidine. The risperdal is the "antipsychotic" (god I hate that word!) And for a while last summer he was having a lot of paranoia, and actually being just, well, not 'normal'. He was threatening to harm himself, burn me or (and this a direct quote from a 5 year old) "hang me on the cross like Jesus til I died". he has pulled knives on me, called 911 on my step son, and just gone into rages over something as trivial (to a non bipolar person) as not being able to tie his shoes.
His current medical team is awesome, and I am always open to new things and research (taken with a grain of salt on some!)
Because he is also ADD it's very hard on the family, and of course especially my son.
I just am hoping he will be able to acheive all his goals and dreams and that being diagnosed won't affect his future for college.
thanks for your kind words.
Victoria
