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Diagnosis: Bipolar

HBO explores heart-wrenching
stories of children with disorder.

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ntil the 1990s, bipolar disor-
der was considered an adult
disease. Today, more than
800,000 children have been diag-
nosed with the illness, often leaving
them and their families traumatized,
immobilized and stigmatized.
The upcoming HBO2 cable TV
special Diagnosis Bipolar: Five
Families Search for Answers follows
parents as they address the unique
challenges of caring for their children
in the shadow of depression, violence
and potential suicide. The program
is directed and pro-
duced by Kate Davis
and David Heilbroner,
the team behind
HBO's Emmy-win-
ning documentary
Jockey.
The show debuts
at 7 p.m. Wednesday,
Jan. 6, on HB02.
Other play dates are
10:30 a.m. Jan. 15
and 8 a.m. Jan. 21.
Featured families include Marcie
and Eric Lipsitt of Franklin and their
20-year-old son, Andrew.
The documentary will bring view-
ers deeply into the lives of families
living with pediatric bipolar mood
disorder (once called manic depres-
sion). The stories told by the parents
and children, reveal daily heartbreak,
failure and triumph.
There are no easy answers: Doctors
admit this diagnosis is poorly under-
stood. They work with parents to sort
through untested medications with
debilitating side effects and unknown
long-term results. Parental observa-
tions underscore the strength of fami-
lies as they make medical decisions,
feel social isolation and struggle to
help the kids they love.
Of the five families Diagnosis
Bipolar follows, three have multiple
children diagnosed with the illness.
Drama unfolds on a daily basis,
from failing at school to psychotic
breakdown. In addition to intimate
interviews, the documentary includes
home video footage and interviews
with experts.
Ranging in age from 8 to 15,
the children suffer from suicidal
impulses, hypersexuality, recurring

nightmares and violent outbursts. All
take new medications that are not
FDA-approved for children and which
have dangerous, unpredictable side
effects. The prognosis for their future
— which includes a high rate of
suicide, promiscuity, depression and
drug use — leaves parents feeling
they have virtually no other options.
The local child featured in
"Diagnosis Bipolar," Andrew Lipsitt,
is a profoundly challenged child who
has had private tutors since he was 4.
His mood swings, from euphoria to
despair, have been
mitigated by thera-
py and medication,
but by no means
cured. His psychia-
trist, Dr. Wozniak,
tells a chilling story
of Andrew slash-
ing himself with a
razor in her waiting
room. Still, there
have been signs of
progress that his
parents find encouraging.
Andrew's mood has stabilized
lately, but only through the nearly
heroic involvement of his mother,
who spends virtually every hour of
every day at Andrew's side.
"People say to me on a regular
basis, Andrew is so lucky to have you
as a mother," Marcie Lipsitt notes in
the film. "Andrew's not lucky at all
because if he did not come from a
family with generations of rampant
devastating psychiatric illnesses, he
would be healthy."
Lipsitt told the JN she hopes the
documentary provides clarity, cathar-
sis and direction to children and par-
ents searching for answers.
"Andrew has continued to tell those
who ask that he agreed to participate
in the HBO film to help his doctors,"
Marcie said. "We have been flying him
to Boston on a monthly basis for nine
years."
She added, "Our goal is to see
families find properly trained pedi-
atric psychiatrists, psychologists and
public schools to diagnosis, treat and
educate children who want nothing
more than an opportunity to lead
healthy, productive and quality-filled
lives." 7)

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Doctors admit the
condition is not
well understood
and they have
no easy answers.

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December 31 2009

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