Over the past decade and a half, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of children being diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, an illness that was once considered rare prior to adolescence. This symposium will examine • Why the incidence of pediatric Bipolar Disorder has risen so dramatically • New treatment guidelines published by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry for early onset Bipolar Disorder which advocate the use of mood stabilizers in combination with atypical antipsychotics • The impact on children’s health of a ‘polypharmacy' treatment approach • Cultural trends at home and school that contribute to children’s emotional immaturity • The greater likelihood in the current cultural climate that ‘difficult’ children will be labeled as psychiatrically disturbed • Marketing pediatric Bipolar Disorder by pharmaceutical companies • The value and limitations of the medical model as a framework for understanding early onset bipolar disorder

[This event is not organized by MFI or a sponsor or affiliate, but a number of members enthusiastically plan to attend; posting does not necessarily mean endorsement of all or part of the content.]