Press Release: June 4, 2007

NIMH recently approved funding to test the effectiveness of an early intervention in children at high risk for developing bipolar disorder. Though early in the research process, the long-term goal of this study is to reduce or delay the development of bipolar disorder in at-risk youth, heading off the effects of the disorder before it disrupts healthy development and functioning.

Family-focused therapy (FFT) involves teaching patients and their families about bipolar disorder and disease management, improving communication skills, and developing problem-solving skills. Past research has shown that FFT, when used with medication treatment, can help prevent recurrences and reduce symptoms in adults and teenagers diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

The recently approved study aims to develop FFT for children, ages 9-17, at high risk for developing bipolar disorder. High risk indicates children who have some symptoms of bipolar disorder, but do not show all the symptoms required for a formal diagnosis, and have an immediate family member with bipolar disorder. Twelve children will participate in this phase of the study.

More teenagers are taking prescriptions medications for ADHD, and for other medical conditions, than ever before, and the sharpest increase is with teenage girls. This is according to a five year study of prescription drug claims by Medco Health Solutions, a company that manages various pharmacy benefits programs.

The increase in prescription drug use may be seen as either good news or bad news.

Either it means that teenagers are benefiting from better health care and better diagnostic evaluations for conditions that would have been overlooked in the past, or that teenagers are suffering more physical and psychological problems than ever before.

For example, the biggest increase in drug claims was for girls taking medication for type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes was once considered "adult" diabetes, but is now more commonly seen in children and teenagers as childhood obesity increases. From 2001 to 2006 the number of girls taking medications for this condition increased by 167%. For boys the increase over the same period was 33%.

ADHD and Caffeine: A Treatment Option?

For many years our ADHD diet has promoted the use of moderate amounts of caffeine in the morning, along with a protein drink supplement and the nutraceutical medicine Attend, as a part of the program. Parents have reported success using the program, both with their ADHD children as well as in their own lives.

Caffeine is a mild CNS stimulant that can be used with ADHD children, teens, and adults, if used purposefully and in moderation. All stimulants are vaso-dilators, meaning that they allow the blood vessels to increase in size and increase the blood flow in the brain. One of the primary physiological problems causing ADHD seems to be a lack of blood flow to certain regions of the brain, and stimulants help to improve blood flow and reduce symptoms caused by this problem, at least temporarily.

It is estimated that 100 mg of caffeine is equivalent to 5 mg of , which is the lowest therapeutic dose, and the usual starting dose for children. It is similar to Ritalin in that caffeine is absorbed and begins working in about 45 minutes, and the benefits wear off after about three to four hours. And, of course, caffeine can have the same kinds of side effects as other stimulants.