Psychosocial intervention for pediatric bipolar disorder: current and future directions

Pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD) affects approximately 2% of the population and disrupts mood regulation, psychosocial functioning and quality of life among affected youths and families. Given the significant psychosocial impairment and poor long-term prognosis associated with PBD, psychosocial intervention is considered to be an essential component of a multimodal treatment approach. This relatively young field of research has witnessed significant growth in the evidence base for psychosocial treatments targeting youths in the past decade, particularly family-based interventions grounded in a biopsychosocial framework. This article reviews existing empirically supported interventions for children and adolescents with PBD. Common elements of successful interventions are identified, and future research directions to address current limitations in the field and advance understanding of treatment for PBD are discussed.