Children with bipolar illness can, and often do have episodes of aggressive outbursts or hypersexual behavior that are symptomatic of the illness.  Fortunately, these symptoms usually respond to proper medical treatment. Due to the child's sometimes alarming behavior, teachers, babysitters, social workers, well-meaning acquaintances and other adults who are not familiar with the disorder may suspect the child has been the victim of abuse.  Therefore, they may feel compelled to report parents to authorities for investigation.

Recent research by Barbara Geller, M.D. and colleagues in an ongoing NIMH-financed study at Washington University in St. Louis found that hypersexual behavior was present in 43% of the kids with mania although only 1% of her sample had evidence of sexual abuse. The study included 93 children with mania whose average age was 10.9 years.