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This paper is Melissa DelBello's contribution to The Balanced Mind Foundation's series, Translation of the Scientific Evolution of Pediatric Bipolar Disorder.  The series presents the leading researchers' contribution to the field.  It describes the programmatic approach and direction of the labs, the seminal questions which drive their research, a listing of their most important findings and a summary of how their work impacts the field.  The Balanced Mind Foundation is very grateful to Dr. DelBello for sharing her vision with our readers.

Smart kids doing stupid things: It’s the teen brain paradox. Extraordinarily quick to learn and rapidly reaching fluency in abstract thought, teens still make bonehead decisions, perhaps more so when routines relax in summer. But that’s because they’re operating with brains that are still a work in progress.

I’ve been involved with The Balanced Mind Foundation for more than eight years: first as a member of the Board of Directors, and as Development Director for the last two. I found The Balanced Mind Foundation for the same reason as most of you – I am the parent of a child with bipolar disorder. 

My son, Gus, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age eleven, less than a year after my husband died from pancreatic cancer. Needless to say, our lives were turned upside down and the next several years were very tough. Gus’s symptoms grew worse and he ended up being hospitalized four times within a period of 2 ½ years.

This paper is Jean Frazier and David Kennedy's contribution to The Balanced Mind Foundation's series, Translation of the Scientific Evolution of Pediatric Bipolar Disorder.  The series presents the leading researchers' contribution to the field.  It describes the programmatic approach and direction of the labs, the seminal questions which drive their research, a listing of their most important findings and a summary of how their work impacts the field.   The Balanced Mind Foundation is very grateful to Drs. Frazier and Kennedy for sharing their vision with our readers.

Genetics Study of Early-Onset Bipolar Disorder Announced
The Balanced Mind Foundation PAC Member on Research Team
Source: North Shore Long-Island Jewish Health System, press release

 Identifying genetic underpinnings of early-onset bipolar disorder is very difficult, given the complexity of the illness.  It is also critical to developing more rational and effective treatments.  Click here to learn more about the genetics study recently launched by The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research.

Copyright 1995 © American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Volume 34(6) June 1995 pp 732-741

Treatment of Bipolar Disorder in Children and Adolescents

[Special Section: Bipolar Affective Disorder in Children and Adolescents]

Kafantaris, Vivian MD

by Ryan, Neal. D., M.D.; Bhatara, Vinod S. M.D., Perel, James M. PhD.

Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Vol. 38, No. 5, May 1999 (529-536). Reprinted with permission of the AmericanAcademy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry andLipincott Williams & Wilkins, publishers.

ABSTRACT

Objective: The efficacy of mood stabilizers in children and adolescents has not been studied adequately. This article will review existing studies and highlight some important issues in designing future studies on these agents.

This paper is Gaye Carlson's contribution to The Balanced Mind Foundation's series, Translation of the Scientific Evolution of Pediatric Bipolar Disorder.  The series presents the leading researchers' contribution to the field.  It describes the programmatic approach and direction of the labs, the seminal questions which drive their research, a listing of their most important findings and a summary of how their work impacts the field.  The Balanced Mind Foundation is very grateful to Dr. Carlson for sharing her insights with our readers.

by Janet Wozniak, M.D., Margaret Harding Crawford, B.A., Joseph Biederman, M.D., Stephen V Faraone, Pl-1.D., Thomas J. Spencer, M.D., Andrea Taylor, B.A., and Heather K. Slier, B.A.
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

Reprinted with permission of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and Lipincott Williams & Wilkins, publishers.

ABSTRACT