Pediatric Mood Disorders Course Overview

Children with mood disorders may present in an acute care setting for a variety of reasons and manifestations. While all children may feel anxious and apprehensive in a medical setting, children with mood disorders are less able to regulate their emotions and adapt to the stressful environment. It is important for clinicians to recognize mood disorders no matter the reason they are being treated.

This course reviews depressive and bipolar disorders in the pediatric population, focusing on assessment, manifestations, treatment, and therapeutic strategies. Upon course completion, learners should be able to provide evidence-based care to the pediatric patient with a mood disorder.

Objectives

• Discuss the manifestations of the various types of mood disorders typically seen in the pediatric population
• Identify strategies to assess for symptoms of mood disorders, the risk of suicide and related issues in youth with mood disorders
• Outline treatment modalities for mood disorders in the pediatric population
• Identify therapeutic strategies to utilize when interacting with the pediatric patient with a mood disorder and the child's family