Oldman, if you (or anybody else) wants more information on bipolar, you can either PM me or go to <a href="http://bipolar.about.com" target="_blank">http://bipolar.about.com</a> This site has a LOT of good articles and explanations about bipolar - there are also message boards and a chatroom. If someone is "talking fast" it could be an indication of hypomania or mania, or it could just be part of their personality. Bipolar is progressive if not treated (and many of us become noncompliant with medications because it can be YEARS between episodes, depending on the type of bipolar you have - I was noncompliant and stable for all 4 years of college, am now back on lithium following a manic episode). It can be misdiagnosed as ADHD, ADD, major depression, schizoaffective disorder (if the person has psychotic manifestations of mood episodes), and others, though those four are the main ones.
It is hard to deal with children who are diagnosed - I was 15 when I was diagnosed bipolar I. Luckily for me, I am responsive to lithium. Many people are not, especially people with type II bipolar (Type I have full blown mania, type II have hypomania, which means they can still function "normally"). The other two complicating factors that decrease probability of responsiveness to lithium, they are called "Mixed states" and "Rapid Cycling". Mixed states is defined as a mood episode that meets the criteria for both a depressive episode and a manic episode. Rapid cycling is defined as having more than four distinct episodes (2 cycles) per year.
There are four medications that are "proven" to work as mood stabilizers in BP. Lithium is the only one that is FDA approved, though. The others are carbamaezpine (tegretol), olanzepine (zyprexa), and valproate (depakote). Others that are used include: gabapentin (neurontin), topirimate (topomax - everybody wants this one, its the ONLY one that helps you LOSE weight, all the others make you gain weight), lamotrigine (lamictal), Clonidine (Klonopin),...I dont rememberm anymore off the top of my head.
Also: many bipolars are extrememly sensitive to antidepressants, even on mood stabilizers. They can throw us for a horrible manic loop, so be careful if you're prescribing amitriptyline for anxiety or pain control - get a good history first.
One last thing: many bipolar people are extremely intelligent and are capable of succeeding in life (some of us are even in medical school). Others have disease so sever that they cannot work and are on social security disability. Do not assume anything about a bipolar patient - especially that they are in some way "mentally deficient" (someone in an acute psychotic episode being somewhat of an exception)
I hope this helps. Feel free to PM me.
Star