A University of Colorado professor has received a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to design "family focused" therapy for young people who have bipolar symptoms.

Dr. David Miklowitz, a leading expert on bipolar disorder, will be working with young people ages 8 to 17 years old, who have risk factors but who may not necessarily been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

"One of the key questions we are asking is if you intervene early with family-focused treatment, do you actually delay the onset of the full disorder or perhaps reduce its severity once it has manifested?" Dr. Miklowitz said.

People usually do not undergo treatment until after they are diagnosed as bipolar.

Read more about Bipolar Disorder in Teen Girls at BoardingSchoolsforGirls.com.

Labels: bipolar, diagnosis, treatment_programs

Psychiatrist Candida Fink, MD, and Joe Kraynak, MA, have released a book titled Bipolar Disorder for Dummies (Wiley, 340 pages, $19.99). Developed as a practical guide to understanding, treating and living with bipolar disorder, the book offers an explanation of the brain chemistry that causes the disease, and discusses the latest medications and therapies available.

"It offers sound advice and self-help techniques that you and your loved ones can use to ease and eliminate symptoms, function in times of crisis, plan ahead for manic or depressive episodes and feel better. Topics covered include: diagnosis and treatment, selecting a mental health specialist, mood charting, managing employment-related issues, and how bipolar disorder affects children."

The sound advice and techniques offered in Bipolar for Dummies can help families navigate this often unpredictable disease, and help them do it together - rather than letting the disease tear them apart.

Learn about Bipolar Disorder in Girls.

Labels: bipolar, brain_chemistry, girls