The Mind organisation in the UK is one of many charities that help young people with a diagnosis of Bipolar disorder. It has many centres where support is offered as well as drop-in sessions with other people in similar situations.
Bipolar disorder
Brian Quinn has written: 'Bipolar disorder' -- subject(s): Bipolar Disorder, Diagnosis, Diagnosis, Differential, Differential Diagnosis, Manic-depressive illness, Therapy
There are 2 diagnostic suffixes that can be added to the diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder --"rapid cycling" and "with seasonal pattern."
Temporal lobe epilepsy and bipolar disorder
If you have symptoms of both the correct diagnosis is schizoaffective disorder.
A psychiatrist is the physician who diagnosis and treats mental disorders like bipolar disorder. Other health care professionals who are not physicians also provide care for patients with bipolar disorder.
The only person I think you should trust on making such an impotent diagnosis as bipolar disorder in a child is a doctor that you have done extensive research on. And even if the doctor is trusted it never hurts to get a second opinion.
It would be necessary to see a mental health professional to get an accurate diagnosis. There are several subcategories of bipolar disorder, each with differing degrees of severity. Some symptoms of bipolar disorder are also found in other mental illnesses.
Bipolar II Disorder (Recurrent Major Depressive Episodes With Hypomanic Episodes) Source http://www.psychiatryonline.com/content.aspx?aID=2585&searchStr=bipolar+ii+disorder
Patients experiencing mania as a result of bipolar disorder will require long-term care to prevent recurrence; bipolar disorder is a chronic condition that requires lifelong observation and treatment after diagnosis
A bipolar disorder test is an examination done by a psychiatrist in order to make the diagnosis. The test primarily consists of questions for the patient. Their answers are usually enough to detect a bipolar disorder.
Unfortunately, there is no blood test or physical exam that can diagnose bipolar disorder, even though these procedures might be used to rule out physical causes that may mimic the symptoms of bipolar disorder. There are some psychological tests, such as the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory or mood disorder questionnaires, that can be administered during psychological assessments to help psychiatrists and other mental health professionals reach a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.