Subsequent chapters cover family issues, treatment options, dealing with insurance problems and the healthcare system, school, and transition planning for bipolar teens. The appendix, Resources , lists books, web sites, organizations, special diagnostic and treatment centers, and more to help you find the help your child needs. Bipolar disorders occur in both girls and boys, so this book alternates between pronouns when talking about patients. These terms are sometimes used in the text, but hopefully everyone reading this book understands that patients are always people first, and that a diagnosis is just an adjective to describe a part of who they are. Every effort has been made to provide accurate information about resources in the English-speaking world, including North America, the UK, the Republic of Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.
Bipolar disorders are a universal phenomenon, however, and occur in all races and nationalities.
Readers in other parts of the world may be able to find local resources and current information in languages other than English on the World Wide Web. Some of the web sites and email discussion groups listed in the appendix to this book can point you toward resources in your part of the world. Simply because this book was written in the US, some information will be skewed toward American readers. Most, however, will be useful to all. Findings from the latest medical research are presented throughout the text.