Early Intervention for Youth at Risk for Bipolar Disorder

Inclusion Criteria:

   - For a child to be eligible:

      - At least one biological parent or stepparent with whom the child or adolescent
      lives must be willing to participate in family treatment

      - At least one biological parent has a verifiable diagnosis of bipolar disorder I
      or II

      - The child must have a DSM-IV diagnosis of bipolar disorder not otherwise
      specified or major depressive disorder (MDD)

      - If the main diagnosis is MDD, the depressive episode must have occurred within
      the past 2 years

      - The child must have evidence of current significant affective symptoms, as
      determined by a score greater than 11 on the Young Mania Rating Scale within the
      last week or a score greater than 29 on the Child Depression Rating Scale-Revised
      within the last 2 weeks

      - The family must speak English, although English need not be their first language

Exclusion Criteria:

   - Fully diagnosable bipolar disorder I or II

   - Diagnosis of autism or pervasive developmental disorder

   - Evidence of mental retardation, as defined by an intelligence quotient (IQ) less than
   70

   - Presence of comorbid neurologic diseases such as seizure disorder

   - Substance or alcohol abuse or dependence disorders in the 4 months prior to study
   recruitment

   - Evidence of a life-threatening eating disorder or other medical disorder that requires
   emergency medical treatment

   - Currently enrolled in regular family therapy

   - Evidence of current sexual or physical abuse or domestic abuse between the adult
   partners