Does bipolar depression affect children differently than adults?

Children and adolescents are affected differently than adults by bipolar disorder and hence bipolar depression. Episodes of mania and depression are more fluid in children's behavior and the lack of distinction makes it difficult to diagnose. Bipolar disorder in children can at times resemble attention and behavioral problems. The rapid changes in mood and behavior are sometimes difficult to distinguish from normal behavior for that age group, or other psychiatric disorders, such as attention deficit disorder, oppositonal defiant disorder and conduct disorder.