Early Detection and Prevention of Mood Disorders in Children of Parents With Bipolar Disorder

This study will develop strategies for early detection and prevention of mood disorders and associated impairment in adolescent children of parents with bipolar disorder.

Bipolar Disorder (BD) is a serious medical illness that causes drastic shifts in a person's mood, energy, and ability to function. BD symptoms alternate from increased energy, restlessness, and overly good mood to a lasting sad, anxious, or empty mood and feelings of hopelessness or pessimism. Research suggests that children of parents with BD are at risk for developing mood disorders because of predisposing genetic factors and stressful life events, many of which may be related to their parents' unstable clinical state. Adolescent children of parents with BD must deal simultaneously with the difficult task of negotiating their own developmental transitions, as well as living with a parent with BD. It may be possible to detect symptoms of BD or other mood disorders early in adolescence and prevent the disorder from further interfering with someone's life. This study will develop and refine strategies for early detection and primary prevention of mood disorders and associated impairment in adolescent children of parents with BD. Participants in this single-blind study will be randomly assigned to receive either interpersonal psychotherapy with adolescents (IPT-PA) or a control intervention, educational clinical monitoring (ECM), for 12 weeks. Participants assigned to IPT-PA will attend twelve sessions. The first four sessions will last 90 minutes each, and will include both family psychoeducation and individual psychotherapy with the adolescent. The remaining sessions will be 45 minutes each, and will include only individual psychotherapy with the adolescent. Participants assigned to ECM will each be assigned to a therapist. During the initial two sessions, which will take place over 2 consecutive weeks, the therapist will focus on mood disorder psychoeducation and participants will receive related written educational material. Participants will then meet with their therapists monthly for 30-minute sessions. Symptoms and functioning will be assessed, but no assistance on building interpersonal skills will be provided. A participant may request a second session each month, but if more than two monthly sessions are required, the participant will be referred for therapy. Mood episodes and symptoms, symptom severity, and functioning will be assessed for all participants at Weeks 6 and 12 and Months 6, 12, and 18 post-treatment.

Individual interpersonal psychotherapy with the adolescents will be conducted over 12 weeks and will include a family psychoeducation component.

Educational clinical monitoring will include two individual sessions of psychoeducation on mood disorders with the adolescent followed by monthly (and if needed bimonthly) meetings with therapist. If more sessions are required, a referral will be made.

A semi-structured interview designed to assess present episode of psychiatric illness according to DSM-IV criteria. The mood, anxiety, substance use and disruptive disorders sections were administered.

A semi-structured interview designed to assess present episode and episode since last assessment of psychiatric illness according to DSM-IV criteria. The mood, anxiety, substance use and disruptive disorders sections were administered.

A semi-structured interview designed to assess present episode and episode since last assessment of psychiatric illness according to DSM-IV criteria. The mood, anxiety, substance use and disruptive disorders sections were administered.

A semi-structured interview designed to assess present episode and episode since last assessment of psychiatric illness according to DSM-IV criteria. The mood, anxiety, substance use and disruptive disorders sections were administered.

CDRS-R Total score measures the presence and severity of depression in children/adolescents. The scale has 17 items scored on a 1-to-5 (3 items)- or 1-to-7 (14 items)-point scale. Total scores range from 17 to 113. Lower scores indicate lower depression, scores > 41 indicate mild-moderate depression.

CDRS-R Total score measures the presence and severity of depression in children/adolescents. The scale has 17 items scored on a 1-to-5 (3 items)- or 1-to-7 (14 items)-point scale. Total scores range from 17 to 113. Lower scores indicate lower depression, scores > 41 indicate mild-moderate depression.

CDRS-R Total score measures the presence and severity of depression in children/adolescents. The scale has 17 items scored on a 1-to-5 (3 items)- or 1-to-7 (14 items)-point scale. Total scores range from 17 to 113. Lower scores indicate lower depression, scores > 41 indicate mild-moderate depression.

CDRS-R Total score measures the presence and severity of depression in children/adolescents. The scale has 17 items scored on a 1-to-5 (3 items)- or 1-to-7 (14 items)-point scale. Total scores range from 17 to 113. Lower scores indicate lower depression, scores > 41 indicate mild-moderate depression.

C-GAS is a clinician-rated measure of overall severity of disturbance. A single assigned score ranging from 0 (most severe level of impairment) to 100 (absence of impairment) represents level of functional impairment.

C-GAS is a clinician-rated measure of overall severity of disturbance. A single assigned score ranging from 0 (most severe level of impairment) to 100 (absence of impairment) represents level of functional impairment.

C-GAS is a clinician-rated measure of overall severity of disturbance. A single assigned score ranging from 0 (most severe level of impairment) to 100 (absence of impairment) represents level of functional impairment.

C-GAS is a clinician-rated measure of overall severity of disturbance. A single assigned score ranging from 0 (most severe level of impairment) to 100 (absence of impairment) represents level of functional impairment.

An 11-item clinician-rated instrument for assessing the severity of manic episodes. 7 of the items are rated on a scale 0-4 and 4 are rated from 0-8. Total scores can range from 0-60, with higher scores indicating greater severity of symptoms.

An 11-item clinician-rated instrument for assessing the severity of manic episodes. 7 of the items are rated on a scale 0-4 and 4 are rated from 0-8. Total scores can range from 0-60, with higher scores indicating greater severity of symptoms.

An 11-item clinician-rated instrument for assessing the severity of manic episodes. 7 of the items are rated on a scale 0-4 and 4 are rated from 0-8. Total scores can range from 0-60, with higher scores indicating greater severity of symptoms.

An 11-item clinician-rated instrument for assessing the severity of manic episodes. 7 of the items are rated on a scale 0-4 and 4 are rated from 0-8. Total scores can range from 0-60, with higher scores indicating greater severity of symptoms.

A 4 item measure to evaluate attitudes towards: length of treatment, helpfulness of therapist, effects of participating in research, and additional services desired. Each item had 3 response options: 1.positive (or longer treatment) 2.neutral (or length just right) 3. negative (or shorter treatment). Scores are summed with potential range from 4-12. Lower number indicates more positive attitude

A self report 10-item scale designed to measure respondents' tendency to regulate their emotions in two ways: (1) Cognitive Reappraisal and (2) Expressive Suppression. Respondents answer each item on a 7-point Likert-type scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree).Items 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10 make up the Cognitive Reappraisal facet (score is averaged, i.e., the score lies between 1 and 7), higher score indicates higher Cognitive reappraisal). Items 2, 4, 6, 9 make up the Expressive Suppression facet (score is averaged, i.e., the score lies between 1 and 7, higher score indicates higher Expressive Suppression).

A self-report10-item scale designed to measure respondents' tendency to regulate their emotions in two ways: (1) Cognitive Reappraisal and (2) Expressive Suppression. Respondents answer each item on a 7-point Likert-type scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree).Items 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10 make up the Cognitive Reappraisal facet (score is averaged, i.e., the score lies between 1 and 7), higher score indicates higher Cognitive reappraisal). Items 2, 4, 6, 9 make up the Expressive Suppression facet (score is averaged, i.e., the score lies between 1 and 7, higher score indicates higher Expressive Suppression).

A self report 10-item scale designed to measure respondents' tendency to regulate their emotions in two ways: (1) Cognitive Reappraisal and (2) Expressive Suppression. Respondents answer each item on a 7-point Likert-type scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree).Items 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10 make up the Cognitive Reappraisal facet (score is averaged, i.e., the score lies between 1 and 7), higher score indicates higher Cognitive reappraisal). Items 2, 4, 6, 9 make up the Expressive Suppression facet (score is averaged, i.e., the score lies between 1 and 7, higher score indicates higher Expressive Suppression).

The General Functioning scale, that assesses the overall health/pathology of the family, is used for the study. The 12 item scores are averaged to calculate the total score, which ranges from 1-4, with higher scores reflecting worse functioning

A clinician-administered instrument to the adolescent' parent, designed to screen for mood, anxiety, and other disorders in parent's first-degree relatives (parents, spouse).

A self-report inventory for the participant' parent that screens for history of a manic or hypomanic syndrome by including 13 yes/no items. A score >7 indicate possible history of mania/hypomania (coded as 1), <7 indicates potential absence of mania/hypomania (coded as 0)

The PHQ-9 is a depression screen, administered to the adolescents parents in this study. The PHQ-9 scores each of the 9 DSM-IV criteria as "0" (not at all) to "3" (nearly every day). Scores can range from 0-27, with higher score indicating higher depression levels.

(SAS-SR) for adolescents, a self-report instrument with 23 questions that fall into 4 major categories: school, friends, family, and dating. Patients rate themselves for the past 2 weeks and they can receive either a total score or a domain specific score. The total score is used here. Each item is scored 1-5, the total score is the average of the scores on each item, possible range of scores 1-5, higher scores indicating worse functioning.

(SAS-SR) for adolescents, a self-report instrument with 23 questions that fall into 4 major categories: school, friends, family, and dating. Patients rate themselves for the past 2 weeks and they can receive either a total score or a domain specific score. The total score is used here. Each item is scored 1-5, the total score is the average of the scores on each item, possible range of scores 1-5, higher scores indicating worse functioning.

The Social Rhythm Metric Short Form (SRM-Short Form) measures habitual time at which 5 daily events occur in a person's life over a one-week interval: what time the adolescent gets out of bed, makes first contact with another person, starts school, has dinner, and goes to bed.

Treatment Credibility Questionnaire. Participant and parent's expectancy about the perceived benefit of treatment will be assessed following the first intervention session after the treatment rationale is given. Adolescents were asked to rate how logical the treatment seemed to them, how confident they were that it would be successful, and how confident they would be in recommending the treatment to a friend. A 0- to 2-point rating scale (0 = none, 1 = some, 2 = a lot) was used (range of possible overall score 0-6, higher score indicating higher treatment credibility)

Inclusion Criteria for Parents: Diagnosis of BD I or II Currently in partial or full remission from a depressive or manic episode Under active clinical care Inclusion Criteria for Adolescents: Speaks English or Spanish Presence of at least one current mood symptom meeting DSM-IV Criterion A and at least one depression or mania symptom meeting DSM-IV Criterion B Depression, irritability, anhedonia, or elated mood scored at level 2 or 3 on the KSADS-PL Mania symptom scored at level 2 or 3 on the KSADS-PL scale Score of less than 40 on the CDRS-R scale Score of less than 15 on the YMRS scale Mild-moderate functional impairment, defined as a score of greater than 61 and less than 75 on the C-GAS scale Exclusion Criteria for Parents: History of psychosis within 1 month of study entry At risk for suicide within 1 month of study entry Exclusion Criteria for Adolescents: Past major depressive or manic episode Current or past psychosis History of suicide attempts Current substance use disorder Use of psychotropic medications and other medications that might impact mood (e.g., steroids)