A $770,000 grant from Pennsylvania Department of Health is Funding Bipolar Disorder Center for Pennsylvanians

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Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University are enrolling adolescents in a study to determine the best treatment approaches for bipolar disorder in young patients.

As part of the study, Jefferson has established the “Bipolar Disorder Center for Pennsylvanians,” which will focus on treatment options for adolescents ages 12 to 17. The center and trial are being funded through a $770,000 grant from Pennsylvania Department of Health.

While the University of Pittsburgh is coordinating the state-wide trial on bipolar disorder, Jefferson is the only site in Philadelphia that is focused on adolescents, an age group where diagnosis of bipolar disorder is now on the rise.

Bipolar disorder (BD) is one of the world’s ten most disabling conditions and is found in nearly 2.3 million American adults, or about 1.2 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year. It is a major risk factor for suicide, said Gail Edelsohn, M.D., director of child and adolescent psychiatry services, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, and associate professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University.

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is classified as a type of affective disorder or mood disorder that goes beyond the day's ordinary ups and downs, becoming a serious medical condition and important health concern in this country. Manic depression is characterized by periodic episodes of extreme elation, elevated mood, or irritability (also called mania) countered by periodic, classic depressive symptoms.
But bipolar disorder is difficult to recognize in teens, Dr. Edelsohn noted.

"A teen who is excited about learning to drive or going to the prom-- that's normal excitement. But these are teens who are saying they can control the class. They can take over for the principal. They can start multiple projects at the same time," she said.

Bipolar disorder can also lead to crushing depression, feelings of worthlessness and even thoughts of suicide.
Some of the manic symptoms of the disorder include:

• Severe changes in mood - either unusually happy or silly, or very irritable, angry, agitated or aggressive
• Decreased need for sleep and still feel energetic the next day
• Unrealistic highs in self-esteem
• A great increase in energy with lots of plans and increased goal directed behavior
• An increase in talking - talks too much, too fast and cannot be interrupted
• Distractibility - attention constantly moves from one thing to the next
• Repeated high risk-taking behavior; such as substance abuse, reckless driving or sexual promiscuity

  The depressive symptoms include:

• Irritability, depressed mood and persistent sadness
• Thoughts of death or suicide
• Sense of worthlessness
• Loss of interest and loss of enjoyment in usual activities
• A low energy level, fatigue, and complaints of boredom
• Poor concentration, decline in school work
• A major change in eating or sleeping patterns, such as too little or too much sleep or decreased or increased appetite

The Jefferson study has two phases--a standard of care phase and a randomized phase.    During the standard of care phase, participants receive an ongoing bi-monthly treatment regimen, including medications.  If the symptoms worsen, they can participate in the randomized phase.  

In this phase, participants receive either weekly medication monitoring to alleviate their worsened symptoms or weekly medication monitoring to alleviate worsened symptoms plus Enhanced Clinical Intervention (ECI). ECI consists of psychoeducation that is provided to the adolescent and his/her family. Components of ECI include: education about bipolar disorder, education about medications, education about  sleep hygiene, careful review of symptoms, careful review of side effects, behavioral and medical management of side effects, education about warning signals, 24-hour on call services.  

A prior diagnosis of bipolar disorder is not required, but adolescents should have symptoms of bipolar disorder.  An in-depth evaluation will be completed to determine diagnoses.

Health insurance is not required and participants are reimbursed for travel, including parking costs and filling out questionnaires.

For more information or to inquire about enrolling in the study, call 1-800-JEFF-NOW or 215-503-2855.