Psychiatry and Psychological Services: Mood Disorders

The Mood Disorders Program at UT Southwestern and Children's Medical Center provides a dedicated tertiary treatment and research center for children and adolescents with depressive disorders (with and without suicidal behaviors) and bipolar disorders. The program is the only comprehensive program for the treatment of mood disorders in children and adolescents in the state of Texas. 

Children with bipolar disorder are initially evaluated in the Bipolar Disorder Clinic, located in an outpatient setting. Services available through the clinic include assessment, diagnosis, medication management and weekly individual and family therapy. For children who are having difficulty functioning at home and at school, and for whom outpatient treatment has not been enough, an intensive outpatient program or day treatment program are available.

Children with depressive symptoms are seen in the Depression Clinic on an outpatient basis. Depending upon their needs patients might receive medication evaluation and management, and individual and family therapy. Some children needing higher levels of care receive services in the day treatment and inpatient programs.   

Mood disorders, including bipolar disorder, depression and suicidality, are pediatric psychiatry's most prolific areas of research. Current studies include research in the areas of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy, as treatments for these disorders as well as translational research, including genetics, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and fMRI studies, that examine the underlying mechanisms of these disorders.