Bright Nights Community Forum: Family-Centered Treatments for Bipolar Disorder September 21, 2010

Bipolar disorder is a chronic illness with unstable and unpredictable moods, and it can be devastating for individuals and families. The stress of living with or taking care of someone with bipolar disorder can strain family relationships. For these reasons, in order for treatment to be successful it is important to include not only the individual who has bipolar disorder, but also their family members.

Dr. Melvin McInnis, M.D., FRCPsych, the Thomas B. and Nancy Upjohn Woodworth Professor of Bipolar Disorder and Depression at the U-M Depression Center, and Laura Nitzberg, LMSW, Clinical Social Work Manager, U-M Department of Psychiatry will present a brief overview of the illness along with information on the Depression Center's family-centered approach to treatment. This will be followed by a specialist panel discussion with experts including Michael Casher, MD, Director, Psychiatry Adult Inpatient Program and Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, U-M Medical School; Kathy Schoof, MSW, ACSW, Clinical Social Worker, Dept. of Psychiatry, U-M Medical School.

University of Michigan Depression Center is the co-sponsor of this event, which aims to provide greater understanding of the causes and treatments for bipolar disorder, with a special focus on treatments which involve both the patient and their family.

Official Website: http://www.aadl.org/events/list?id=5963