Manic! At the Disco - Demystifying Pediatric Bipolar Disorder Artwork

Good Enough Shrink

We are child psychiatrists practicing in the Los Angeles area on a mission to demystify psychiatry and mental health. The title of this podcast is a tribute to the psychoanalyst, Donald Winnicott, and his concept of the "Good Enough Parent.” This is the idea that the imperfect but sufficient provisions of a parent will build a resilient child in an imperfect world. We want to empower children and parents to embrace their strengths and flaws, and know that you are good enough.

We want to emphasize the power of holding difficult emotions from the lens of attachment theory. Attachment theory is based on the idea that humans need a social bond with another to survive. This bond, when it is “good enough”, serves as a secure base from which a child can explore the world. When this attachment is disrupted, it can lead to emotional issues, and sometimes full-blown psychiatric disorders. This is where therapists and psychiatrists come in.

This podcast is for the curious adults, parents, family members, mental health professionals and trainees. So we hope you join us in this adventure to explore science and mental health from a developmental perspective.

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Good Enough Shrink

Manic! At the Disco - Demystifying Pediatric Bipolar Disorder

December 23, 2025 • Dr. Jenna Cheng, Dr. Patrick Kelly • Season 2 • Episode 7

This time of year, severe mental health conditions like bipolar disorder can worsen. In this episode, we discuss the evolution of bipolar disorder and how it came to be understood. We start with adult bipolar disorder and dive into pediatric bipolar disorder, especially its diagnostic challenges. This is a highly debated topic, so sit back, ponder, send us any questions or comments!

Topics Discussed:

Statistics of Pediatric Bipolar Disorder
History of Manic Depressive Illness to Bipolar Disorder
- Dementia praecox & manic depressive insanity
- DSM-1 through DSM-5
Diagnostic Challenge of Pediatric Bipolar Disorder
The Question of DMDD vs. Bipolar Disorder
Differential Diagnoses of Bipolar Disorder:
- ADHD, major depression, psychosis/schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder, PTSD, borderline personality disorder, TBI, hyperthyroidism
Pharmacological Treatments
Psychosocial Treatments

Resources:

APA: https://www.apa.org/topics/bipolar-disorder

AACAP: https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/FFF-Guide/Bipolar-Disorder-In-Children-And-Teens-038.aspx

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