Psychosocial intervention for pediatric bipolar disorder: current and future directions

Abstract

Pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD) affects approximately 2% of the population and disrupts mood regulation, psychosocial functioning and quality of life among affected youths and families. Given the significant psychosocial impairment and poor long-term prognosis associated with PBD, psychosocial intervention is considered to be an essential component of a multimodal treatment approach. This relatively young field of research has witnessed significant growth in the evidence base for psychosocial treatments targeting youths in the past decade, particularly family-based interventions grounded in a biopsychosocial framework. This article reviews existing empirically supported interventions for children and adolescents with PBD. Common elements of successful interventions are identified, and future research directions to address current limitations in the field and advance understanding of treatment for PBD are discussed.

Keywords::

• cognitive-behavioral therapy
• family-based treatment
• mood disorders
• pediatric bipolar disorder
• psychosocial intervention

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Preparation for this manuscript was supported in part by a Young Investigator Grant YIG1-140-11 from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (SM Weinstein) and NIH grant 3K23MH079935 (AE West). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.