Education and Training
Early Intervention for Youth at Risk for Bipolar Disorder
Children or teens with mood swings or depression who have a parent with bipolar disorder are at high risk for developing bipolar disorder themselves. This study will test a family-based therapy aimed at preventing or reducing the early symptoms of bipolar disorder in high-risk children (ages 9-17). In a randomized trial, the investigators will compare two kinds of family-based treatment (one more and one less intensive) on the course of early mood symptoms and social functioning among high-risk children followed for up to 4 years. The investigators will examine the effects of family treatment on measures of neural activation using functional magnetic resonance imaging.
Stanford is currently not accepting patients for this trial.
Intervention(s):
- behavioral: Enhanced Care
- behavioral: Family-Focused Treatment
- behavioral: Enhanced Care
- behavioral: Family-Focused Treatment
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- For a child to be eligible:
- At least one biological parent or stepparent with whom the child or adolescent
lives must be willing to participate in family treatment
- At least one biological parent has a verifiable diagnosis of bipolar disorder I
or II
- The child must have a DSM-IV diagnosis of bipolar disorder not otherwise
specified or major depressive disorder (MDD)
- If the main diagnosis is MDD, the depressive episode must have occurred within
the past 2 years
- The child must have evidence of current significant affective symptoms, as
determined by a score greater than 11 on the Young Mania Rating Scale within the
last week or a score greater than 29 on the Child Depression Rating Scale-Revised
within the last 2 weeks
- The family must speak English, although English need not be their first language
Exclusion Criteria:
- Fully diagnosable bipolar disorder I or II
- Diagnosis of autism or pervasive developmental disorder
- Evidence of mental retardation, as defined by an intelligence quotient (IQ) less than
70
- Presence of comorbid neurologic diseases such as seizure disorder
- Substance or alcohol abuse or dependence disorders in the 4 months prior to study
recruitment
- Evidence of a life-threatening eating disorder or other medical disorder that requires
emergency medical treatment
- Currently enrolled in regular family therapy
- Evidence of current sexual or physical abuse or domestic abuse between the adult
partners
Ages Eligible for Study
9 Years - 17 Years
Genders Eligible for Study
All
Not currently accepting new patients for this trial
Contact Information
Stanford University
School of Medicine
300 Pasteur Drive
Stanford,
CA
94305
Kiki D Chang, MD
650-725-0956
Not Recruiting