User:Bifcbd/Family Center for Bipolar Disorder

Family Center for Bipolar provides support, treatment, and understanding of bipolar-spectrum illnesses within the context of the family. Bipolar Disorder, as well as other mood spectrum disorders such as Major Depressive Disorder and Cyclothymia, are chronic illnesses. As such, preserving family health and stability is an essential part of successful treatment. For this reason, the Family Center treats patients and their families using the Family-Inclusive Treatment model. The Family Center for Bipolar is a division of the Biological Psychiatry department of the Beth Israel Medical Center located in New York City.

Family Inclusive Treatment (FIT)

 * FIT uses a "Family Psychiatrist" to encourage and facilitate open family communication about the signs and symptoms of bipolar illness and the medications used in its treatment.
 * FIT is designed to include caregivers, who may be family members or friends, at every step along the way to wellness. The Family Psychiatrist helps patients and their loved ones recognize and avoid risky behavior, such as high expressed emotion that may trigger an episode, and decrease the likelihood of children developing Bipolar Disorder.
 * In addition to medication management, the Family Psychiatrist works to create a family environment that minimizes, as much as possible, the impact of bipolar disorder on its members. This is achieved with the use of follow-ups, support, and, if needed, treatment for family members as well.

Services

 * The Family Center recently introduced the Cannabis Use and Bipolar Spectrum Services (CUBSS).
 * CUBSS is a treatment option available to patients with Bipolar Spectrum Disorders who use marijuana. This treatment grew out of research findings demonstrating correlations between cannabis use, symptoms of mania and depression, as well as the presence of psychosis   CUBSS is the first US initiative of its kind being geared directly toward the mental health community rather than a rehabilitation or drug treatment program. Keeping in line with the credo of the Family Center, CUBSS operates on a FIT model, involving patient-selected caregivers/family/significant others in each patient’s treatment plan. This service is targeted at individuals who feel that their manic and depressive episodes may be either exacerbated or alleviated by their use of marijuana, or both. This service is not for patients whose primary problem is misuse of licit or illicit drugs.


 * Outpatient Family-Inclusive Treatment delivered by a team of Family Center physicians.


 * Consultations for individuals with a bipolar-spectrum disorder consisting of an evaluation for either a diagnosis or a second opinion on treatment.


 * Consultations for family members of bipolar-spectrum patients. This service is designed to help family members find the best treatment options for their loved ones with Bipolar Mood Disorder and to improve adherence to those treatments.


 * Inpatient hospitalization at a Beth Israel Medical Center psychiatric unit and treatment by a Family Center for Bipolar specialist.