Although we most often talk about depression as a stand-alone disease entity, it is worth being aware that it can occur in the course of bipolar disorder. This raises challenges of diagnosis and treatment. Unfortunately, not all options in pharmacotherapy are available to pediatric patients in Poland.
Depression in bipolar disorder requires the right approach.
Published Feb. 23, 2024 12:41
As the name suggests, bipolar affective disorder runs with different episodes: depressive, manic, hypomaniacal, or mixed.
- Research from around the world clearly shows that in children and adolescents, bipolar disorder is more likely to start with a depressive episode. It is estimated that more than half of young people start with just a depressive episode. It is alarming that more than 80 percent of these children are mistreated as a result," says Dr. Aleksandra Lewandowska, national consultant for child and adolescent psychiatry.
Meanwhile, the diagnosis of a depressive episode leads to a completely different course of action than the diagnosis of bipolar disorder with a depressive episode.
- In depressive disorders, we talk about comprehensiveness, i.e. psychosocial interaction and when necessary - support in the form of pharmacotherapy. However, in bipolar affective disorder, as in schizophrenia, the absolute basis is pharmacotherapy. The biology of the central nervous system needs to be regulated, and then psychosocial interactions are incorporated in parallel, the national consultant points out.
Unfortunately, drug treatment in Poland is not optimally tailored to the needs of pediatric patients. It turns out that most drugs do not have registration in our country in patients under the age of eighteen. In the world, these drugs in many cases not only have such registration, and even from the age of ten, but also recommendations from scientific societies and experts.
- As a consultant, I am very solicitous for support, mainly when it comes to the treatment of our minor bipolar disorder patients with a depressive episode in the course of the disease. We have an active molecule that is the only one now recommended and characterized by proven efficacy, with clinical trials conducted around the world and more than two years of follow-up. It is characterized by efficacy, a safe profile of action, and a low incidence of side effects. We are very keen that our patients, like adult patients, can benefit from these new forms of therapy," says Dr. Aleksandra Lewandowska.
As the national consultant for child and adolescent psychiatry emphasizes, bipolar disorder is a chronic condition, and the earlier we start effective, safe treatment, the greater the chance of recovery and an adequate quality of life.
