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Family-focused therapy (FFT), which was developed as an adjunctive treatment for bipolar disorder, involves the family and patient in all aspects of treatment and includes education, practicing open communication, and enhancing problem solving. The group that developed FFT has now conducted a randomized comparison of 4 months of FFT (12 sessions) or enhanced standard care (6 sessions; education and a mood management plan for patients only) in 127 children with active mood symptoms (mean age, 13).
Patients had diagnoses of major depression or subthreshold bipolar disorder (insufficient number or severity of symptoms to meet full criteria for bipolar disorder), and all had relatives with bipolar disorder. Pharmacotherapy was prescribed indepen…