Major Depressive Episode
The diagnosis of a Major Depressive Episode, which is a usual component of BPI and a required component of BPII, includes five or more of the following symptoms, experienced when there is no external reason for the depressed mood (such as the death of a close friend or important relative):
- Depressed, or, particularly in teens, irritable mood
- Loss of interest in most or all activities that were previously enjoyed
- Significant weight loss or gain, or failure to gain weight as the adolescent grows taller
- Too much or too little sleep
- Physical agitation, or physical listlessness
- Constant fatigue
- Feeling worthless or unusually guilty
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Suicidal thoughts with or without an actual plan to carry out a suicidal act
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Summary and meaning for you as a parent:
If your child has experienced a serious depression based on the criteria above, and the depression lasted two weeks or longer, you should think in terms of both major depression alone and the possibility of BPII. Go over the criteria for mania, consider whether or not your child might have experienced a reduced severity version of these criteria, and report your concerns to a mental health professional experienced with both depression and bipolar disorders. Because your child will most likely enjoy the hypomanic experience, particularly in contrast to the depression, he or she is not likely to think it is a problem (our work oriented, multitasking culture often encourages and rewards hypomania), but it is a problem and requires treatment as soon as possible.
More information on Bipolar Disorder:
