Post a discussion prompt response according to the facilitating group’s instructions. Your reply posts should include substantive reflection directed to the presenters. Read the following passage and use the listed resources to answer the 4 questions completely. A
Summary of Bipolar Disorder in the Pediatric Population  
In this discussion, we will review the complexities of bipolar disorder in the pediatric population. Developing a bipolar diagnosis in children can be difficult, and it takes time to distinguish symptoms from disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD), ADHD, oppositional defiance disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Charuvastra, 2022). Special attention needs to be paid to whether symptoms are chronic versus episodic. Additionally, risk factors such as family history of bipolar disorder and increased childhood adversity can increase suspicion of a bipolar diagnosis in children who exhibit mania and depression (Charuvastra, 2022). This diagnosis may not be obvious in children at first, and it may take time to come to a diagnosis, especially since recognizing hypomania can be difficult.  
Once a diagnosis has been reached, drug treatment choices can be reviewed, paying special attention to medication side effects of antipsychotics, which can cause additional psychosocial and physical challenges associated with some medication side effects of weight gain and the potential to develop diabetes (Abrams, 2020). Additional challenges arise in the adolescent population in which medication noncompliance can be extremely high and underreported (Abrams, 2020). Scales such as the Parent General Behavior Inventory (www.tinyurl.com/2cj3sawr) or the Child Mania Rating Scale (www.tinyurl.com/44r84jtz) can be useful tools in rating mania and gauging treatment choices (Charuvastra, 2022). Besides pharmacotherapy, psychosocial interventions are important in addressing sleep patterns, medication compliance, and healthy lifestyle choices (Brickman