LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

bipolar disorder

Learn more about bipolar disorder

The diagnosis of ADHD
Diagnoses of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have been on the rise since the 1990s. This article discusses the appropriate criteria under which ADHD should be diagnosed and considers the consequences of misdiagnosing — or not diagnosing — ADHD.
Format: article
By Jennifer Job.
Changing the focus from label to need
Labeling a student's disability is an important step in procuring special education services for that student. But is there a downside to labeling students? This article looks at four commonly held — but ultimately misleading — beliefs about labels in special education, and advocates for focusing on needs rather than labels.
Format: article
By Jennifer Job.
Records of eugenical sterilization in North Carolina
In The Great Depression and World War II, page 2.10
Data from North Carolina's state-run eugenics program, from the 1930s. Includes historical background.
Format: data set/primary source

Disorder characterized by periods of depression or irritability alternating with periods of mania.

Additional information

Mania may manifest as overconfidence, high activity, risk taking, and an inability to distinguish fantasy from reality. During a period of depression, children may be sad, irritable, tired, and uninterested in activities they would normally enjoy. Some depressed children and adolescents attempt suicide. Bipolar disorder may cycle more rapidly in children than in adults, with dramatic mood swings occurring within a single day. These students are also likely to have ADD, and bipolar disorder may be misdiagnosed as ADD. Treatment for bipolar disorder often includes medication, which can cause side effects such as frequent urination, nausea, and drowsiness.

In school. Children with bipolar disorder may benefit from:

  • short, simple instructions.
  • redirection to keep them on task.
  • extended time on assignments or tests.

Threats of self harm should be taken seriously.

Examples and resources

The Nation’s Voice on Mental Illness (NAMI) website contains a question and answer page about child and adolescent bipolar disorder that covers symptoms, treatments, and more.

Additionally, the The Balanced Mind Foundation website has resources connected with educating the child with bipolar disorder, modifying the classroom, and working with students through various stages of the illness.