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Treatment of childhood-onset bipolar disorder

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Bipolar Depression: Molecular Neurobiology, Clinical Diagnosis and Pharmacotherapy

Part of the book series: Milestones in Drug Therapy ((MDT))

Abstract

Because pediatric bipolar disorder is a serious condition, there is a substantive need for evidence- based treatments for children and adolescents suffering from this condition. A fundamental intervention used in this patient population is pharmacotherapy. Despite the importance of medication treatment in this patient population, only limited amounts of methodologically stringent data exist pertaining to this form of intervention. The evidence that does exist suggests that some psychotropic medications can provide salutary effects for youths suffering from Bipolar I disorder. Also relevant is the pharmacotherapy of genetically at-risk children suffering from bipolar spectrum disorder, and treatment of psychiatric co-morbidities. Further placebo-controlled trials are needed in order to better characterize the efficacy and safety of psychotropic medication in this population.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, University Hospitals Case Medical Center/Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, 44106, USA

    Robert L. Findling

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  1. Robert L. Findling
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Mood Disorders Research Unit Laboratory of Molecular Pathophysiology, National Institute of Mental Health Mark O. Hatfield Clinical Research Center, Unit 7SE Rm. 7-3445 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, USA

    Carlos A. Zarate

  2. Laboratory of Molecular Pathophysiology, National Institute of Mental Health Porter Neuroscience Research Center, Building 35, Room 1C-917 36 Convent Drive, MSC 3711, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, USA

    Husseini K. Manji

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Findling, R.L. (2009). Treatment of childhood-onset bipolar disorder. In: Zarate, C.A., Manji, H.K. (eds) Bipolar Depression: Molecular Neurobiology, Clinical Diagnosis and Pharmacotherapy. Milestones in Drug Therapy. Birkhäuser Basel. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7643-8567-5_14

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