Psychotherapy for Children with Bipolar and Depressive Disorders

Mary A. Fristad, PhD, ABPP, is Professor of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Human Nutrition at The Ohio State University. She is also Associate Chair for Academic Affairs in the Department of Psychiatry, as well as Director of Research and Psychological Services in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. Fristad is board-certified both in clinical psychology and in clinical child and adolescent psychology. She has published over 150 articles, book chapters, and books addressing the assessment and treatment of childhood-onset depression, suicidality, and bipolar spectrum disorders. Dr. Fristad has been the principal or coprincipal investigator on over two dozen federal, state, and local grants focused on assessment and treatment of mood disorders in children. Jill S. Goldberg Arnold, PhD, maintains a private practice in the Boston area, where she specializes in childhood mood disorders. Before moving to the East Coast, she was Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at The Ohio State University. Dr. Goldberg Arnold has collaborated on both state- and federally funded research projects examining the impact of psychoeducational psychotherapy on families of children with mood disorders. She has published widely in the area of childhood mood disorders. Jarrod M. Leffler, PhD, ABPP, is Director of Outpatient Group Therapy Programming and Associate Director of the Clinical Child Internship Program at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He is also Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at The Ohio State University. Dr. Leffler’s research and clinical interests include the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of bipolar spectrum disorders in youth; group therapy; treatment outcome; service utilization; supervision; and program development, implementation, and evaluation. He has worked on state and federally funded grants, provided numerous presentations and trainings, and written several articles and book chapters.

"There is a great need for empirically proven psychosocial strategies for enhancing children's emotion regulation and coping. This book provides refreshing, incisive guidance and insights for families coping with severe mood disorders. It addresses fundamental issues of education and cognitive control that can provide a foundation for successful adaptation. I highly recommend this book to mental health clinicians seeking to understand and remediate these complex disorders."--Joan L. Luby, MD, Samuel and Mae S. Ludwig Professor of Child Psychiatry and Director, Early Emotional Development Program, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis"Finally, a book that brings together the wide variety of strategies available for working with families of children with mood disorders. The authors clearly show how psychoeducational psychotherapy differs from simple education. Readers will especially appreciate the wealth of clinical information and the practical, 'how-to' approach, supplemented by reproducible handouts."--David J. Miklowitz, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, UCLA School of Medicine, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, and Senior Clinical Researcher at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom"This book raises the bar for evidence-based practice resources. The authors are not just familiar with the research, they have contributed much to it, and they are also experts at engaging families. As a researcher, I am impressed by how up to date the information is. As a clinician, I appreciate the combination of a clear structure and strong supporting materials. The book provides extensive handouts and exercises for teaching and reinforcing core skills. This book combines art, science, and wisdom in a blend that will raise the game of anyone working with children who struggle to regulate their emotions or form lasting positive relationships."--Eric A. Youngstrom, PhD, Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill-

• I. Mood Disorders in Children and How Psychoeducational Psychotherapy Helps 1. The Challenge of Treating Children with Mood Disorders 2. Current Scientific Knowledge about Childhood Mood Disorders 3. Implementing Psychoeducational Psychotherapy 4. The Complexities of Establishing a Mood Disorder Diagnosis II. Psychoeducational Psychotherapy Session by Session 5. Discussing Mood Symptoms with Children 6. Reviewing Symptoms and Disorders with Parents 7. Teaching Children How to Separate Symptoms from Self and How Treatment Helps Symptoms 8. Discussing Medication with Parents 9. Discussing Healthy Habits with Children 10. Teaching Parents about Systems: Mental Health and School Teams 11. The Child's Tool Kit for Coping with Difficult Feelings 12. Discussing Negative Family Cycles and Thinking, Feeling, Doing with Parents 13. Thinking, Feeling, Doing with Children 14. Problem-Solving and Basic Coping Skills for Parents 15. Problem-Solving Skills for Children 16. Addressing School Issues with the School Team 17. The Communication Cycle and Nonverbal Communication Skills for Children 18. Communication Skills for Parents 19. Verbal Communication Skills for Children 20. Planning for Symptom and Crisis Management with Parents 21. Working with Siblings 22. Wrapping Up with Parents and Children III. Child and Parent Handouts and Group Game Materials Appendix. Resources