A Program Intervention for Pediatric Bipolar Disorder: Preliminary Results

Abstract

The effectiveness of a behaviorally based day treatment program for young children diagnosed with Pediatric Bipolar Disorder (PBD) was evaluated using pretreatment and posttreatment mean scores from the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Data were evaluated in aggregate and using the clinically significant change method for children diagnosed with PBD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), Adjustment Disorder, and no diagnosis/clinical and subclinical groups. Significant effects were found for all groups except the no diagnosis/subclinical group on the Internalizing scale and for all groups on the Externalizing scale. Clinically significant change was supported for the PBD, ADHD, ODD, and Adjustment Disorder groups. Implications and limitations of the study are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• behavior therapy
• bipolar disorder
• day treatment
• pediatric bipolar disorder
• psychosocial treatments

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge and thank Jane L. Peterson for her continued support of the research endeavor and her work with the children at Behaven Kids.

Notes

Note. Asterisks indicate significant difference when age is compared to the ADHD group.

*p < .05. **p < .01.

*p < .01. **p < .001, ***p < .0001.