Improving Outcomes for Pediatric Bipolar Disorder (1 CE)

Number of Credits: 1

This course is for:  Clinical Psychologists, Counselors, LMFTs, and Nurses

Course By: Tim Grigsby, PhD

Content By: Goldstein, B. I., Birmaher, B., Carlson, G. A., DelBello, M. P., Findling, R. L., Fristad, M., ... & Youngstrom, E. A. (2017). The International Society for Bipolar Disorders Task Force report on pediatric bipolar disorder: Knowledge to date and directions for future research. Bipolar Disorders, 19(7), 524-543.

Course Description: While there has been debate about whether or not bipolar disorder emerges during childhood, research over the past two decades has supported the diagnosis of pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD). An international group of research experts review the literature to identify areas of consensus, limitations and gaps in our understanding of PBD, and highlight future areas of research needed to improve diagnosis and treatment. Generally, researchers have become more sensitive to screening irritability as a symptom, identified gold-standard pharmacologic treatments, and identified neurocognitive mechanisms that might strengthen confidence in diagnosis. While great strides have been made, more interdisciplinary research is needed to combine methodologies, such as neuroimaging and behavioral observation, in screening and treatment of PBD.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the global prevalence and assessment of pediatric bipolar disorder
2. Identify the clinical characteristics of pediatric bipolar disorder
3. Summarize the pharmacologic treatment options supported by existing research

Course Outline:

• Read and understand The International Society for Bipolar Disorders Task Force report on pediatric bipolar disorder: Knowledge to date and directions for future research
• Review the Course Description and Learning Objectives
• Reflect on the myths, consensus, and next actions for addressing pediatric bipolar disorder with an emphasis on clinical presentation and supported treatment strategies
• Work through the post-test questions; keep in mind that answer selections should be derived from the respective article
• Return to the referenced article for any missed questions and/or to better understand the course, nature, comorbidity, and outcomes of pediatric bipolar disorder 

Implicit biases incorporate an association that occurs outside of conscious awareness that may resultantly lead to a negative patient evaluation derived from irrelevant characteristics; i.e. gender and/or race. A systematic review of the literature was conducted. Thirty-five studies identified the existence of implicit bias in healthcare professionals; all correlational studies evidenced a significant positive relationship between implicit bias levels and lower quality of care (FitzGerald & Hurst, 2017). Continued research in health care settings, combined with greater method homogeneity, should be employed to examine the occurrence and prevalence of implicit biases in healthcare settings as a strategic approach for mitigating related disparities (FitzGerald & Hurst, 2017).

Reference

FitzGerald, C., Hurst, S. (2017). Implicit bias in healthcare professionals: A systematic review. BMC Med Ethics 18, 19. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-017-0179-8

Approvals: