Bipolar Disorder in Children and Adolescents: An Integrative Approach

Course overview

It is sometimes difficult to determine if a child or adolescent is going through a "phase" or showing signs of a more serious psychiatric challenge such as bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder causes unusual shifts in moods and energy. These shifts are different from the normal "ups and downs" that every child or teenager goes through from time to time. Children and adolescents with bipolar disorder can suffer from damaged relationships, substance abuse, poor school performance, and even commit suicide. However, today there are more treatment options available than ever before for children and adolescents with this disorder. The outcome of this course is to provide the learner with an overview of bipolar disorder in children and adolescents, examine the symptoms, risk factors, and traditional treatment methods available for this specific population, and explore integrative approaches to assessing, treating, and managing this disorder.