Signs of Bipolar Disorder in Teens: What Parents Should Look For

Like many mental health conditions, bipolar disorder often begins in the teenage years, but goes undiagnosed until young adulthood. This may mean that teens may suffer with symptoms for years. It can sometimes be harder to treat mental illness if many years have passed with the symptoms.

To make it worse, untreated bipolar disorder can often result in risky behaviors that have serious consequences. For this reason, it's important to identify the symptoms of bipolar disorder in teens.

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Written by:

Lauren Smith, MA

Lauren Smith, MA, has worked in health journalism since 2017. Before joining GoodRx, she was the senior health editor and writer for HealthiNation.

Reviewed by:

Sarah Gupta, MD

Sarah Gupta, MD, is a licensed physician with a special interest in mental health, sex and gender, eating disorders, and the human microbiome. She is currently board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

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