40-fold Increase in Pediatric Bipolar Diagnosis in Less Than A Decade

The Times print edition ran this story on the first page today:

The number of American children and adolescents treated for bipolar disorder increased 40-fold from 1994 to 2003, researchers report today in the most comprehensive study of the controversial diagnosis.

Experts say the number has almost certainly risen further since 2003.  Read more...

This is what you get when clinical training emphasizes symptom checklists, taxonomy and treatment recipes.  It works well for insurers, pharmaceutical companies and simplistic clinicians.  It's lousy for the patient.

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Comments

[Ben Hansen]

4 or 5 years from now, the headlines will read:

Diagnoses of Dystonia & Dyskinesia Jump 4,000%,

Scientists Baffled by Epidemic of Movement Disorders

[Dr X]

Ben,

Yes.

What is happening is unconscionable.

[drsharna]

The very nature of Life itself is bipolar. There are good days, bad days, days in between. It's Life, fergawdsakes, not the "Small World" ride at Disney.