Research on the effectiveness of these and other medications in children and teens with bipolar disorder is ongoing and needs further study, according to Dr. D'Agostino. Research is the key to better understanding bipolar disorder and in particular, its diagnosis and treatment in children. The study, coordin-ated through Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and billed as the largest of its kind, will recruit some 5,000 participants at 18 centers across the country and take a close look at raising the standard of care for individuals with the disorder. Open to anyone age 15 and older with bipolar disorder, including those with additional mental and physical illnesses, participants will be followed for five years in an effort to benchmark treatment and find effective treatment strategies. Despite treatment advances and ongoing research, the stigma of mental illness isn't something which will disappear in the near future, says Jan Holcomb executive director of the Mental Health Association in Illinois.
Mental illness can affect people of any age, including children and young teens.
Recent tragic events such as school shootings present us with images of adolescent aggressive and antisocial behavior. There is a national search for answers and a long-term commitment to national basic behavioral research which we hope will point to a practical payoff in terms of our children's mental health.