|
The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center has opened a new inpatient treatment center aimed at diagnosing and treating bipolar disorder in children, the first of its kind in the nation, according to a university press release.
Family members of children staying at the facility may be interested in finding an extended-stay hotel in the Pittsburgh area. One good option is the Residence Inn Pittsburgh University/Medical Center. Guest suites are set up like apartments, complete with fully-equipped kitchens. A self-serve laundry facility is on-site, and high speed Internet access is available free of charge.
The inpatient Child and Adolescent Bipolar Services (in-CABS) now screens all children who visit the hospital's emergency room for signs of bipolar disorder through the use of a Child Mania Rating Scale, a survey completed by parents or caregivers that evaluates both past and current manic symptoms in the patient while incorporating questions about family psychiatric history. The in-CABS team then combines the results of the survey with its own evaluation to make a diagnosis.
"With our novel, multi-layered approach, we will be able to better identify, diagnose, and treat this extremely debilitating disorder," Dr. Rasim Somer Diler, medical director of in-CABS and associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh, said in the release.
Diler added that "during the inpatient stay, children and their families receive state-of-the-art treatments that target their individual needs, including workbooks and psycho-education materials written by the in-CABS team; training for mood monitoring, sleep hygiene, daily routines and healthy nutrition and exercise; as well as dialectical, cognitive behavioral, yoga, music and art therapies."
According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of the manic phase of bipolar disorder include euphoria, poor judgement, aggressive and risky behavior and an inability to concentrate. Symptoms of the depressive phase include sadness, sleep problems, low appetite and irritability.
The clinic also notes that particularly in children, explosive temper and rapid mood shifts over the course of mere hours may be indicators of bipolar disorder.
Bipolar disorder can be caused by imbalances in neurotransmitters or hormones, imbalanced traits, or a stressful or abusive environment. Risk factors include having family members with the disorder, major life changes, and periods of high stress.
Parents considering bringing their child to in-CABS may want to prepare for their visit by writing down a list of their child's symptoms and any possible medications, as well as making a note of any recent major stresses in the child's life, recommends the Mayo Clinic.
|
Extended Stay News
