The best of news and research articles from publications nationwide, as selected by the The Balanced Mind Foundation, updated weekly.

A research study with the aim of assessing  the efficacy and safety of subcallosal cingulate Deep Brain Stimulation in patients with Treatment-Resistant Depression with either major depressive disorder (MDD) or bipolar II disorder (BP).

The Balanced Mind Foundation is committed to providing parents with current information about treatments and resources that have a proven track record of success.  To learn more we sat down individually with three leading clinicians who are pioneering the charge to include your entire family in therapy.  While the approaches differ in some important respects, they all share the common goal of working with kids with bipolar disorder in an inclusive family context.  Learning about these approaches to therapy will provide parents with the information they need to seek the treatment approach that best suites the needs of their child and their family.

"Mommy, Am I Really Bipolar?", Letter to the Editor, Newsweek, June 29, 2011, by Susan Resko, The Balanced Mind Foundation Executive Director

June 29, 2011

The FDA (Food & Drug Administration) approved use of Abilify for maintenance of bipolar disorder in 2005.  But a recent article published in the open access journal PLoS Medicine (Tsai, et al) looks critically at the science behind the decision to approve Abilify.  The results were one blind, randomized trial sponsored by the pharmaceutical company that makes Abilify, Bristol Meyers Squibb.  Article exposes flaws in trial to show we currently do not have enough evidence to know whether or not Abilify is effective in the maintenance of bipolar disorder.  Article also features step-by-step advice for people currently taking Abilify.

The Balanced Mind Foundation is an national partner with the NIMH Outreach Partnership Program and attends their annual conference each spring to learn about the latest research and program development supported by NIMH funding.  We are pleased to share the pPresentation slides from the National Institute of Mental Health Outreach Conference held in Houston, TX March 24 - 27, 2011.

Article written by Debbie Rohr, Social Worker discussing parenting strategies.

Education, Medication, and More

Harvard Student Shares Struggles with Depression (and Hope For Recovery)

Source: The Harvard Crimson

Harvard isn’t always the glossy ivy-covered utopia that many conceive it to be. "Brochure Harvard" does exist. But it is not always a place where conversations about mental health are necessarily encouraged. On a campus where the need for assistance is too often perceived as a flaw, the student body has a tendency to rely on variations of “I’m fine.”
(Read More)

This article lists The Balanced Mind Foundation's top 10 bestselling books on bipolar for February 2011.

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Education, Medication, and More

Bipolar Biobank Helps Identify At-Risk Patients for Early Intervention

Source: Mayo Clinic

Diagnosing bipolar disorder can be challenging, and many times, clinicians are struggling with what is the best treatment option. Researchers hope that the Mayo Clinic's Biobank for Bipolar Disorder will one day provide genetic clues to facilitate the diagnosis of patients, and guide treatment selection.
(Read More or Watch Video)