Learning Objective #1: Describe the lived experience of parents of children diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder

Learning Objective #2: Discuss nursing, research, and health policy implications related to parenting a child with Bipolar Disorder

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Recent years have seen a rise in the number of children diagnosed at an early age with bipolar disorder. Parents must assume the responsibility for medication management and behavioral monitoring. This, combined with a changing political arena, may mean continued stress and burden for caregivers and parents of children diagnosed with a psychiatric illness. The purpose of this existential phenomenological study was to describe the lived experience of parents of children ages 6-11 years, who are diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. An existential phenomenological research method was used. Non directive, in depth, taped interviews were conducted with a volunteer sample of 10 parents. The narratives were analyzed for common themes of experience by the researcher and an interdisciplinary research team. A thematic structure of four interrelated themes emerged. These themes were: (1) “it's always, always: engulfed in chaos"; (2) "my hands are tied: scared and frustrated”; (3) “on the other side of a dark curtain: alone and shunned away”; and (4) “I cry so many tears on this child: it hurts but it's worth it.” The themes stood out against the contextual ground of others, primarily the child and professionals in the educational and health systems. The parents in this study experienced unrelenting fear, frustration, loneliness, and hurt. The health and educational systems proved to be inadequate. However, the parents were strong, fighting for the rights of their child, the prime consideration of their lives. Examined from the perspective of family nursing care for a chronically ill child, the study informs nurses of ways to support parents. The findings provide clear insight into the interactions that the families had with the environment, the most significant finding for family nurses being the absence of the nurse. Discussion of the findings includes implications for family health, nursing and health policy.