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The-Colorado-Family-Project

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The Colorado Family Project

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The University of Colorado research project titled The Colorado Family Project

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Werthwein, Robert

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The Colorado Family Project, based at the University of Colorado Boulder, is a joint project of the Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center in Denver and the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder. The Colorado Family Project comprises clinicians and researchers who specialize in working with children with or at risk for bipolar disorder (extreme high and low moods).

We work with children ages 9 to 17 years old, along with their family members. For families who participate in our research study, we provide a thorough diagnostic evaluation, family-based therapy, and when relevant, medication management from a psychiatrist. There is no cost for participating families.

Previous studies conducted by the Colorado Family Project have shown that Family-Focused Therapy is effective in stabilizing the symptoms of bipolar disorder in adults and adolescents when combined with medication treatment. Such benefits may also extend to children and adolescents at risk of developing bipolar disorder, a question we hope to clarify through our current research study.

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University of Colorado Depression Center

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The Colorado Family Project - Department of Psychology & Neuroscience

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About the Study - Early Intervention for Youth at Risk for Bipolar Disorder

The Colorado Family Project is currently recruiting participants for a study of children at risk for bipolar disorder. Eligible families will have a biological parent with bipolar disorder and a child or teen (age 9-17) with mood swings or significant sadness.

Participating families will receive a thorough diagnostic evaluation, family-based therapy, and, when relevant, medication management from a psychiatrist. There is no charge for participating in this research program. In addition to therapy, participants take part in regular research interviews and fill out questionnaires about their individual and family functioning. The family receives compensation for each research interview. Participation in the study lasts up to four years, but the majority of the time commitment is in the first four months.

To qualify:

1. The child must have a biological parent with bipolar disorder.

2. The child must be between the ages of 9 – 17 years old.

3. The child must be exhibiting symptoms of depression or impairing mood swings.

4. The child does not have a developmental disability and is not currently dependent on drugs or alcohol.

If you have any questions or if you think your family may be a good candidate for the study, please contact us for more information, 303-492-1668.

About the Funding

This study is part of a multi-site research project funded by the National Institute of Mental Health through a grant to Professor David J. Miklowitz, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California Los Angeles School of Medicine and Adjunct Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at University of Colorado, Boulder. The project is dedicated to finding the most efficacious and cost-effective approaches for preventing, delaying, and/or treating the symptoms of bipolar disorder. The project is being conducted at the University of Colorado, University of California Los Angeles, and Stanford University.

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COMIRB # 11-1048

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The Colorado Family Project includes several individuals at University of Colorado and Children’s Hospital Colorado who have interest and expertise in childhood bipolar disorder and related conditions.

Dr. Christopher Schneck – Principal Investigator, Psychiatrist

Dr. Christopher Schneck, MD, received his undergraduate degree from Stanford University, his medical degree from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and completed his residency at Yale University. Dr. Schneck is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado School of Medicine where he treats patients, conducts research, and teaches medical students and residents. Dr. Schneck’s primary area of interest and research is in bipolar disorder, with a particular emphasis on rapid cycling bipolar disorder and adolescent bipolar disorder.

Zak Millman – Study/Intake Coordinator

Zak has been working with Colorado Family Project since 2009. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Zak’s research interests are in risk and protective mechanisms in the course of mood disorders, with an emphasis on genetics and family environment.

Dr. Dawn Taylor – Lead Psychologist, Project Coordinator at Children’s Hospital

Dr. Dawn Taylor, a licensed psychologist, received her PhD from Ohio State University in 1979. She has contributed over 20 years to research on bipolar disorder in adults and adolescents. Dawn is a member of the research faculty of the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Colorado, Boulder and has a private practice in Boulder.

Christopher Hawkey – Therapist, Project Coordinator at University of Colorado Boulder

Christopher Hawkey, MA, a master’s level clinician, is an advanced student pursuing a dual PhD in clinical psychology and neuroscience from the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Colorado, Boulder. He has contributed 5 years to research on bipolar disorder in adolescent populations and is particularly interested in neural correlates of mood dysregulation.

Dr. Marianne Wamboldt - Psychiatrist

Dr. Marianne Wamboldt, MD, is Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, as well as Chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Children’s Hospital Colorado. She is a board certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, with over 25 years of clinical, teaching and research experience. Her training included a BS magna cum laude from Marquette University, an MD as well as general psychiatry residency from University of Wisconsin, a clinical research fellowship at NIMH, and a specialty fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at University of Colorado. Her interests have focused on the role of family relationships in medical (primarily asthma) and psychological outcomes for children and teens, behavioral genetics as a tool to understanding the co-morbidity of medical and psychiatric problems, and clinical interventions for children and adolescents with mood and/or anxiety disorders. She has authored over 62 scientific articles/chapters, been involved as principal investigator or co-investigator on over 30 grants, and involved as President of the Board of Family Process; past Chair of the Committee on the Physically Ill Child, as well as member of the Program Committee, within the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; and member of the Group for Advancement of Psychiatry’s Committee on the Family.

Lindsey Gagnon – Therapist

Lindsey Gagnon, M.A., is an advanced doctoral student at the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Professional Psychology. She started working with the Colorado Family Project in 2005 after graduating with departmental honors in psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. Lindsey has also worked in several clinical settings with youth and adults experiencing severe and persistent mood dysregulation and will begin an advanced student practicum at the Colorado State University Health Network in the fall of 2012.

Jessica Lunsford-Avery – Therapist

After Jessica Lunsford-Avery, M.A., graduated from the University of Virginia in 2006, she spent two years as a research fellow at the National Institute of Mental Health, investigating the phenomenology and pathophysiology of pediatric bipolar disorder. Jessica completed her master’s degree in clinical psychology at in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Colorado, Boulder in 2010 and is currently working toward her doctoral degree. Her research focuses on the role of sleep disturbances in the course, prevention, and treatment of bipolar disorder and psychosis in children and adolescents.

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What is pediatric bipolar disorder?

Children with bipolar disorder have severe mood swings, from very high and energized (manic) to very low, unmotivated, and lethargic (depressed). High periods may last only a day or two, but for some, the episodes last a month or more. Low periods usually last longer than high periods.

How common is pediatric bipolar disorder?

About 1 in every 50 children in the United States has some form of bipolar disorder. It most often affects a person for the first time in adolescence or young adulthood.

What are the symptoms of bipolar disorder in childhood?

Some kids become overly happy and excited or giddy or overly irritable and angry. They may feel like they can do things that no one else can do (grandiosity). They may sleep less than usual or not at all, do many things at once, have more energy, talk faster and express many ideas (some realistic and some unrealistic), and be easily distracted. They may do things that are impulsive when manic, like spend a great deal of money unwisely or drive recklessly.

Kids may experience the symptoms of depression at other times, which can include feeling very sad, down, irritable, or anxious, losing interest in people or things, sleeping too much or being unable to sleep, having little or no appetite, having trouble concentrating or making decisions, feeling fatigued or low in energy, moving or talking slowly, feeling very bad or guilty about themselves, or contemplating suicide or actually carrying out suicide attempts.

Many children with bipolar illness have “mixed” symptoms, in which they feel manic and depressed at the same time. They may feel (or act) irritable, sped up, “tired but wired,” and unable to sleep; at the same time they may feel worthless, have suicidal thoughts, or may lose interest in everything. Some children alternate rapidly between these different extremes of mood. Diagnosis can be challenging, and often requires extended periods of observation to confirm.

How does bipolar disorder affect the family?

Bipolar disorder affects the child’s ability to relate to others in the family or in the school setting, especially when ill. Most commonly, parents and siblings of the bipolar child complain about the child or teen’s irritability, stubbornness, and impulsive outbursts of rage. Some families complain of a “toxic” atmosphere in the household when their child’s mood is cycling. Your family problems may be most apparent during or just after your child or teen’s episode of mania or depression, but then may improve as he or she gets better. The therapy offered through Colorado Family Project involves teaching families how to resolve family conflicts through good communication and problem solving.

What causes bipolar disorder?

Having bipolar disorder means that the child has dysregulations in the emotional regulation “circuitry” of the brain, especially the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex. Children often inherit these dysregulations from parents or grandparents, even though these relatives may not have the disorder themselves. Children with bipolar disorder are also be affected by life stress or sudden changes in sleep–wake habits.

What kind of treatment is offered through Colorado Family Project?

Children and families who are interested in participating in our research get a diagnostic evaluation first. This usually means two sessions with a psychologist and one with a psychiatrist. After these sessions, we can determine if the family is eligible for our research study. If not, we will provide a set of referrals for outside care.

Eligible families will be assigned randomly (like flipping a coin) to receive: 12 sessions of family therapy; or 3 sessions of family therapy plus 3 individual sessions for the child. Both treatments focus on helping children and their family members to understand and cope with mood swings, develop plans for preventing moods from getting worse, communicate more effectively, and solve family problems.

A participating child may be offered medication treatment if he or she is not already taking medications. The decision to do so is determined by the clinical needs of the child in consultation with his or her parents. Taking medications is not required to participate in the study.

What does the future hold for children with bipolar disorder?

Many children with bipolar disorder have recurrences of mood disorder throughout their lifetimes, but there is every reason to be hopeful. With the help of a regular program of medication, therapy, and support from others, mood disorder episodes become less frequent and less extreme. Our hope is that Colorado Family Project will significantly advance our knowledge of effective diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of serious mood disorders in children and adolescents.

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Self-Help Resources on Pediatric Bipolar Disorder

Birmaher, B. (2004). New hope for children and teens with bipolar disorder. Roseville, CA: Prima Health.
Miklowitz, D. J. (2002). The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide. New York: Guilford Publications.
Miklowitz, D. J. & George, E. L. (2007). The Bipolar Teen: What You Can Do to Help Your Child and Your Family. New York: Guilford Publications. (Includes an extensive “Resource” section, including referrals to relevant educational services, residential treatment facilities, and outpatient treatment)
Miklowitz, D. J. (2008). Bipolar Disorder: A Family-Focused Treatment Approach (2nd Edition, revised). New York: Guilford Publications.
Miklowitz, D. J. & Cicchetti, D., Eds. (2010). Understanding Bipolar Disorder: A Developmental Psychopathology Perspective. New York: Guilford Press.

More information about Mood Disorders in general can also be found at the UCLA Mood Disorders website, www.semel.ucla.edu/mood

Websites:

Robert D. Sutherland Center: rdsfoundation.org/sutherlandcenter/

Balanced Mind Foundation: www.bpkids.org

Juvenile Bipolar Research Foundation: www.bpchildresearch.org

Brain and Behavior Research Foundation: www.bbrfoundation.org

National Institute of Mental Health: www.nimh.nih.gov

National Alliance on Mental Illness: www.nami.org

Depressive and Bipolar Support Alliance: www.dbsalliance.org

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Colorado Family Project scheduling and information line: 303-492-1668

Primary Contact: bipolar.clinic@colorado.edu

Christopher Schneck, Principal Investigator: christopher.schneck@ucdenver.edu

We work with families in two locations: Boulder and Aurora.

Our location in Boulder:

Colorado Family Project at University of Colorado Boulder is housed in a building called Center for Innovation and Creativity, or CINC, at 1777 Exposition Drive in Boulder.

From Denver, take 36W to Arapahoe Ave, then turn right. Head east on Arapahoe Avenue until you reach 38th St. Turn left at 38th. Then take an immediate left onto Exposition Drive, and drive 2 blocks. CINC will be on your left, and parking at the building is free. Once inside, follow the Colorado Family Project signs up the staircase to your left and then into the clinic lobby in Suite 217.

Our location in Aurora:

Colorado Family Project sees families at Children’s Hospital Colorado, Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, at 13123 East 16th Avenue in Aurora.

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