Psychotherapeutic treatments for pediatric bipolar disorder: preliminary studies and clinical effectiveness

Bipolar

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (2010), pediatric bipolar disorder is a "contentious" issue in children's mental health in part because diagnoses of pediatric bipolar disorder have risen by as much as forty percent. Accompanying this steep rise in the numbers of children being diagnosed with bipolar disorder is a confusion as to which treatments are best for young people with growing brains. The range of treatments available for children is broad, making it difficult to target interventions for the young population.

Research has revealed that diagnoses of bipolar disorder are made after the child experiences his or her first manic episode. This is because parents are more apt to notice the behavioral changes in the child exhibiting manic symptoms like inappropriate sexuality or euphoric episodes. Yet it is also important for therapists and parents to address the gamut of behavioral and affective manifestations of bipolar disorder. This research encompasses varying treatment options that address both symptoms of mania and depression, which may include cognitive-behavioral therapy, group therapy, and medications.

Hypothesizing that no one treatment intervention is applicable to all cases, this paper examines the following research question: which of the various psychotherapeutic treatments are proving most helpful for helping children with bipolar disorder (pediatric bipolar disorder), based on research? An analysis of peer-reviewed literature should clarify which treatments work under which circumstances, because "bipolar disorder does not affect every child in the same way," (Hellander, McDonald, Pedersen & Resko, 2012). Complicating the treatment options is the fact that children's rapid rate of growth means their symptoms are apt to change over time, necessitating nuanced, dynamic, and different interventions.

Conclusion

This research offers insight into the prevailing treatment intervention options available for young people diagnosed with bipolar disorder. A thorough analysis of available literature, almost all of which is preliminary and difficult to generalize, reveals a wide range of potentially effective treatment options. These treatment options can be adapted to suit the needs of a wide and diverse patient cohort. Currently common interventions examined in the research include cognitive-behavioral therapy, family therapy, group therapy, individual counseling, and pharmacological treatments for bipolar disorder.

Although the diagnosis of pediatric bipolar disorder remains controversial, the interventions extant in the research do offer ways of bypassing pharmacological treatments except when they are deemed absolutely necessary. Future research into pediatric bipolar disorder is expressly warranted. This short review of literature reveals gaps in the research, and potential for future investigations into the best treatment options available.