Assignment: Mood Disorders

"School and going out with my friends used to be fun, but not anymore. Mom keeps telling me just to go out and have fun, but I don't see the point of trying. All my friends are better than I am. I keep having these headaches and just feel worthless. I used to get As and Bs in school, but not anymore. I can't concentrate at school. I would rather be at home sleeping."

Madison, age 16

Mood disorders can be particularly challenging to address in childhood and adolescence as many parents do not believe it is possible for their child to become depressed or even suicidal. The PMHNP needs to know how to diagnose these conditions and must understand the importance of integrating medication management strategies, with both individual and family therapy to optimize treatment outcomes.

You debate the theory that bipolar depression can or cannot be diagnosed in children and adolescents.

Photo Credit: Corbis/VCG / Corbis / Getty Images

Learning Resources

Note: To access this week's required library resources, please click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in the Course Materials section of your Syllabus.

Required Readings

Sadock, B. J., Sadock, V. A., & Ruiz, P. (2014). Kaplan & Sadock's synopsis of psychiatry: Behavioral sciences/clinical psychiatry (11th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer.

• Chapter 31, "Child Psychiatry" (pp. 1226-1253)

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

• "Bipolar and Related Disorders"
• "Depressive Disorders"

Note: You will access this book from the Walden Library databases.

Zeanah, C. H., Chesher, T., & Boris, N. W. (2016). Practice parameter for the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with reactive attachment disorder and disinhibited social engagement disorder. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 55(11), 990-103.

Stahl, S. M. (2014). Prescriber's Guide: Stahl's Essential Psychopharmacology (5th ed.). New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.

Note: All Stahl resources can be accessed through the Walden Library using the link. This link will take you to a login page for the Walden Library. Once you log in to the library, the Stahl website will appear.

To access information on the following medications, click on The Prescriber's Guide, 5th Ed. tab on the Stahl Online website and select the appropriate medication.

Optional Resources

Thapar, A., Pine, D. S., Leckman, J. F., Scott, S., Snowling, M. J., & Taylor, E. A. (2015). Rutter's child and adolescent psychiatry (6th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Blackwell.

• Chapter 62, "Bipolar Disorder in Childhood" (pp. 858-873)
• Chapter 63, "Depressive Disorders in Childhood and Adolescence" (pp. 874-892)

Discussion: Pediatric Bipolar Depression Disorder Debate

Some debate in the literature exists specific to whether or not bipolar disorder can be diagnosed in childhood. While some have anecdotally argued that it is not possible for children to develop bipolar disorder (as normal features of childhood confound the diagnosis), other sources argue that pediatric bipolar disorder is a fact.

In this Discussion, you engage in a debate as to whether pediatric bipolar disorder is possible to diagnose.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

• Evaluate diagnosis of pediatric bipolar depression disorder
• Analyze consequences to diagnosing/failing to diagnose pediatric bipolar depression disorder

To Prepare for the Discussion:

• The instructor will assign you a position for or against the issue of diagnosing pediatric bipolar depression disorder.
• Review the Learning Resources concerning the controversy over the diagnosis of pediatric bipolar depression disorder.

Note: For this Discussion, you are required to complete your initial post before youwill be able to view and respond to your colleagues' postings. Begin by clicking on the "Post to Discussion Question" link and then select "Create Thread" to complete your initial post. Remember, once you click submit, you cannot delete or edit yourown posts and cannot post anonymously. Please check your post carefully before clicking Submit!

Post:

• Write "for" or "against" in the subject line of your Discussion post.( FOR)
• Based on the position you were assigned, justify whether or not pediatric bipolar depression disorder should be diagnosed.

Support your position with evidence and examples.