Cognitive-behavioral therapy for bipolar disorders in adolescents: a pilot study.

Feeny, Norah C; Danielson, Carla Kmett; Schwartz, Lisa; Youngstrom, Eric A; Findling, Robert L

Objectives: To develop a cognitive behavioral intervention for adolescents with bipolar disorders, test its feasibility and preliminary efficacy. Methods: Based on existing research, a manualized, individually delivered cognitive behavioral intervention was developed and tested with adolescents with bipolar disorders as an adjunct to pharmacological treatment. Using existing data, baseline characteristics and outcome were compared to a matched group of eight adolescents with bipolar disorders who did not receive any psychosocial intervention. Results: Preliminary results support the feasibility and efficacy of this manualized cognitive behavioral intervention. Conclusions: Individually delivered cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) as an adjunct to pharmacological treatment is feasible and associated with symptom improvement in adolescents with bipolar disorders. Randomized controlled studies are needed.

ADOLESCENT psychiatry; AFFECTIVE disorders; BIPOLAR disorder; COGNITIVE therapy; OPERANT behavior; RESIDENTIAL treatment of adolescents

Bipolar Disorders, 2006, Vol 8, Issue 5, p508

1398-5647

Academic Journal

10.1111/j.1399-5618.2006.00358.x