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<p>Interesting article in today's Boston Globe about bipolar disorder in college students.</p>
<p>Thank you for posting this important article.</p>
<p>There are several different types of bipolar disorder, and this article seems to mainly describe type 1, the old-fashioned “manic depression” that tends to have sudden onset in late teens, early twenties.</p>
<p>It really would help if writers could clarify the different types (bipolar 1, biplolar 2, cyclothermic, and NOS) and that childhood bipolar, a more recent and controversial classification, has in recent years been diagnosed 40 times more often than 10 years ago.</p>
<p>I also wish that a reporter would explain that this is a brain-based disorder (like epilepsy) and, as she said, is strongly genetic. It is not an emotional problem resulting from family dysfunction or trauma.</p>
<p>I thought the article was a little negative about meds, prognosis, and college success. Medications like lithium work miracles in some, and the list of famous, gifted and/or productive people with bipolar disorder is very long.</p>
<p>Amen, compmom!</p>
<p>Young adults are just ripe for all kinds of mental, emotional and behavioral disorders. i think that leaving high school and making that transition to independence is a trigger for many. Or, perhaps, it 's just the age. Many are able to get their issues under some kind of control in future years, but, man, it can be tough for all concerned during those college years. It’s particularly frightening when your child is away and you can’t see what is happening. Whether the complaints and problems are within normal parameters or not is often difficult to discern. With all of these issues, the kids are often also experimenting with relationships, drugs, alcohol, and identity. Really an explosive combination at times.</p>
<p>Bookmarked.</p>