Adolescent Bipolar Disorder

• DOI: 10.4088/pcc.09r00895ora
• Publication Date: 2010-08-11T22:24:05Z
• Authors: Melissa J. Rodgers; Robert G. Zylstra; Julia B. McKay; A. Lee Solomon; Beth A. Choby
• Keywords: Stressor

Adolescence is a vulnerable developmental phase marked by physical, psychological, and social changes that rapidly expose young people to wide range of new stressors. When differentiating between bipolar disorder teenage "acting out," careful history important. Adolescent psychiatric illness characterized fluctuating episodes mood elevation depression frequently neither recognized nor formally diagnosed. Adolescents with often manifest more nonepisodic, chronic course continuous rapid-cycling patterns than do adults. Pharmacologic treatment adolescent difficult requires combination therapy address comorbidities like attention-deficit/hyperactivity anxiety disorder. Adjuncts pharmacologic can be beneficial. Psychosocial treatments include family education, enhanced parenting techniques, stress management, the development effective coping strategies.