The Bipolar Teen: What You Can Do to Help Your Child and Your Family [Paperback]

David J. Miklowitz PhD (Author), Elizabeth L. George Phd (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 11 and up | Grade Level: 6 and up

If your teen has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder--or your child’s moods seem out of control--Dr. David Miklowitz can help. The bestselling author of The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide has tailored his proven treatment approach to meet the specific needs of teens and their families. The Bipolar Teen provides tools you can use to make home life manageable again. You’ll learn to spot the differences between normal teenage behavior and the telltale symptoms of mania and depression. Together with your child’s doctors, you’ll be able to strike a healthy balance between medication and psychotherapy, recognize and respond to the early warning signs of an oncoming episode, and collaborate effectively with school personnel. Like no other resource available, this powerful book delivers practical ways to manage chaos and relieve stress so everyone in your family--including siblings--can find stability, support, and peace of mind.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Parents grappling with questions about adolescent bipolar disorder will find all the key facts in this book: how to recognize the signs and symptoms of mania and depression, the best available treatments, and strategies for protecting family life. Written by leading authorities in the field, the book provides state-of-the-art information in a clear, supportive style. I would recommend this book highly to any family that is struggling to come to terms with this difficult disorder."--Sheri L. Johnson, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of Miami

"Miklowitz and George have prepared a book of exceptional sophistication, wisdom, and clinical sensitivity; one that will be useful to parents and clinicians alike. The book draws on the most current research about the assessment and treatment of bipolar disorder in adolescents, includes copies of ready-to-use scales and materials, and illustrates how these ideas and tools are woven into interventions that are both evidence based and supportive of the unique needs of each family. The discussion of how parents can work with schools to promote academic and social success is particularly valuable. We will be using this book with families in our training clinic, and I will recommend it enthusiastically to colleagues."--Eric Youngstrom, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

"Kudos to Drs. Miklowitz and George! This accessible and well-crafted guide distills 20 years of research experience to provide proven management tools to parents who face the daunting task of navigating the world of the bipolar teen."--Demitri Papolos, MD, coauthor of The Bipolar Child

"My family has walked in these shoes, and has emerged on the other side of adolescence. My child is now a happy, successful, self-sufficient young adult, thanks to the treatment approach on which this book is based. As both a parent and a professional, I will do anything I can to get this book into the hands of other families who are struggling with this illness. This is the first book on adolescent bipolar disorder that offers hope."--Kathy McBride, MS, Family Resource Specialist, Boulder Valley (Colorado) School District

"This book is filled with tips on handling--and yes, surviving--the 'perfect storm' that is adolescence with a bipolar teen. The authors have seen and heard it all! They share compassionate guidance on how parents can stay calm, keep everyone safe, and steer through the storm."--Martha Hellander, JD, Cofounder, Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation

"A treasure chest of comprehensive information, real-life stories, and practical suggestions for parenting your challenging teen supportively and effectively. This book is a wonderful resource that will improve everyday life for the whole family."--V.M., parent of a 15-year-old bipolar child

About the Author

 

David J. Miklowitz, PhD, an award-winning researcher, is Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), School of Medicine, and Senior Clinical Researcher at Oxford University. He also directs the Child and Adolescent Mood Disorders Program at the UCLA Semel Institute. The author or editor of influential books for professionals on understanding and treating bipolar disorder, as well as the bestselling Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide, Dr. Miklowitz lives in Los Angeles.

 

Elizabeth L. George, PhD, is coinvestigator with Dr. Miklowitz on the Colorado Family Project and a psychologist with a private practice based in Boulder.

 

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 11 and up
  
• Paperback: 356 pages
• Publisher: The Guilford Press; 1 edition (November 16, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1593853181
• ISBN-13: 978-1593853181
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #44,718 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #14 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Mental Health > Bipolar

More About the Author

David J. Miklowitz, PhD, Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Colorado, is a leading international scholar and author in the study of bipolar disorder. He is currently investigating the effectiveness of his Family-Focused Therapy for adolescent bipolar disorder.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AWESOME!! A MUST HAVE FOR PARENTS OF BP TEENS!!!, April 9, 2008

By 

Cheri Hopkins "clh" (Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Bipolar Teen: What You Can Do to Help Your Child and Your Family (Paperback)

I CANNOT recommend this book strongly enough! If you have a BP teen or soon-to-be teen DEFINATELY buy this book! Such questions as "is it BP or is it regular obstinate teen?", IEPs, social anxiety, medications, different therapies for different teens, etc. This book covers it ALL! Easy to read and understand. Many "if this scenerio than use this technique" type descriptions as well. This book goes with me everywhere as I read it over and over. Also bought The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide by the same author/doctor which my 15 yo is reading and also just LOVES it! We now have MANY MORE open and frank discussions on her challenges with both of us now able to understand the disorder better and also how she responds to it better. Again- if you are a parent of a BP teen- BUY THIS BOOK!!!!

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The book I've been looking for, March 18, 2008

By 

Concerned Mom - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Bipolar Teen: What You Can Do to Help Your Child and Your Family (Paperback)

A well-organized, empathetic, and truthful book about bipolar disorder in teens. When I first started my journey with my child I could not get a straight answer from anyone. Miklowitz gives straight answers - which I find refreshing and honest. There is no sugarcoating here, but he is not fatalistic at all. I did not find this book discouraging, I felt affirmed in what I already know. We want science in dealing with mental health disorders and there is plenty to go around, but those of us who are on the frontlines need experienced opinions and on the ground knowledge of how to tackle some very difficult behaviors and we need to be able to understand as much as possible.

Difficult subjects are discussed in terms that are not alarming. Advice is given from the studies they've done and the clients they've worked with in practice. I have to say, that's all I ever really wanted. I knew there were no answers, I just wanted some strategies.

No matter where you are on your journey with your child, this book will give you the tools you will need. Does it contain everything you need to know? No, not one book can do that, but it certainly comes close. I am very grateful for the work they've done and for sharing it so honestly and openly.

Hope you have a chance to visit my blog (...)

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Resource, February 10, 2008

By 

Michele Soloway (TN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Bipolar Teen: What You Can Do to Help Your Child and Your Family (Paperback)

Every parent of a teen with bipolar disorder should own this book. Using real life examples of parents and teens, the authors illustrate so many of the problems you face on a daily basis, such as: knowing when it's your teen and when it's the bipolar talking; how to solve school problems; how to restore peace at home; and even how to deal with suicidal thinking. This book is an easy read, without "doctor-speak," and uses charts, examples, checklists, your own fill-in-the-blanks, bullet-pointed information, and actual quotes and stories of real parents and teens to get the information across. I was very impressed with this book.