Bipolar Teen: What You Can Do to Help Your Child and Your Family » (New Edition)

 

David J. Miklowitz, PhD, an award-winning researcher, is Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), School of Medicine, and Senior Clinical Researcher at Oxford University. He also directs the Child and Adolescent Mood Disorders Program at the UCLA Semel Institute. The author or editor of influential books for professionals on understanding and treating bipolar disorder, as well as the bestselling Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide, Dr. Miklowitz lives in Los Angeles.

 

Elizabeth L. George, PhD, is coinvestigator with Dr. Miklowitz on the Colorado Family Project and a psychologist with a private practice based in Boulder.

 

If your teen has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder--or your child’s moods seem out of control--Dr. David Miklowitz can help. The bestselling author of The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide has tailored his proven treatment approach to meet the specific needs of teens and their families. The Bipolar Teen provides tools you can use to make home life manageable again. You’ll learn to spot the differences between normal teenage behavior and the telltale symptoms of mania and depression. Together with your child’s doctors, you’ll be able to strike a healthy balance between medication and psychotherapy, recognize and respond to the early warning signs of an oncoming episode, and collaborate effectively with school personnel. Like no other resource available, this powerful book delivers practical ways to manage chaos and relieve stress so everyone in your family--including siblings--can find stability, support, and peace of mind.

Doody Review Services

Reviewer:Nicholas Greco IV, MS, BCETS, CATSM(Abbott Laboratories)
Description:This is a reference tool and instructional guide for families with bipolar teens. It provides the necessary knowledge for families on such topics as diagnosis, treatment, and prevention in an easy to read, easy to understand format. Most importantly, the book provides realistic expectations, not meaningless banter.
Purpose:The purpose is to provide understanding, awareness, and a tremendous amount of knowledge for families of bipolar teens. The book emphasizes family-focused treatment as well as a combination of medication and psychotherapy. The authors advocate a combination of treatments to meet the needs of the bipolar teen. The book provides a realistic view of the disorder with the ups and downs associated with it, while highlighting the strengths of the teenager, which can provide needed optimism.
Audience:Families with bipolar children and adolescents will find comfort and substantial benefit from this book. Additionally, this is a worthwhile and important read for any child and adolescent psychiatrist and psychologist to integrate into their treatment plans. Both authors are experienced members of the field, and their latest work further supports their expertise.
Features:The highlight of the book is its no-nonsense approach to the disorder. It is realistically optimistic, unbiased, and supportive. Of the four solid chapters on understanding bipolar disorder, two, covering how to obtain an accurate diagnosis and what the family can expect, are essential reading. A frank discussion on psychopharmacology and psychotherapy helps guide and educate the family on available treatment options, but the most valuable chapters are the ones dealing with prevention and maintenance.
Assessment:This is the only book on adolescent bipolar disorder that truly offers realistic expectations, meaningful treatment options, and clearly provides families with invaluable knowledge on their child's illness. One of the best books of the year!

Preface     ix
Understanding Bipolar Disorder in Teens
"What's Happening to My Teenager?"     3
A Close Look at the Symptoms     21
Getting an Accurate Diagnosis     43
Living with Bipolar Disorder: What Your Family Can Expect     79
Treating Adolescent Bipolar Disorder
"How Did My Teenager Get This Illness?"     109
Medications for Bipolar Disorder in Teens     125
How Psychotherapy Can Help Your Teenager and Your Family     150
Helping Your Teen Accept Ongoing Medication Treatment     172
Helping Your Teen Stay Well
Family Management and Coping     197
Tools and Tactics for Preventing Mood Episodes     215
What to Do When Mania Begins     237
How to Handle Depression     260
Dealing with Suicidal Thinking and Behavior     281
Tackling the School Environment     302
Resources     327
Bibliography     335
Index     349
About the Authors     356