Download Addressing Barriers to Learning: Helping Students Cope

Addressing Barriers to Learning:
Helping Students Cope with
Disruptive Behaviors
Bipolar Disorder
Mental Health in the Schools Series
Suzanne Rilling
Mili Lal
Susan Cole
OBJECTIVES

Overview of Bipolar Disorder

Signs and Symptoms

Strategies/Interventions

Classroom Accommodations

Developing a Plan

Case Study
Childhood Bipolar Disorder
General Information:
Previously called manic depression
Alternate between “poles” of excessive energy
and hopelessness
1% of population
Usually diagnosed late adolescence or early
adulthood
Recognized in children since 1995
Diagnostic Criteria

Symptoms are at an inappropriate severity level
for age and developmental stage.

Must cause SIGNIFICANT functional impairment
to be considered a disorder.
Essential Clinical Features

Marked by EXTREME changes in mood, thought,
and behavior

Disturbance must be severe enough to cause
impairment in school/family/peer functioning or
need hospitalization.
Etiology of Childhood Bipolar
Disorder
 Genetic
 Chemical
Imbalance
 Life
stressors
exacerbate illness
Signs and Symptoms of
Childhood Bipolar Disorder

Poor behavior
regulation
 Irritability
 Labile
 Distractibility
 Switches topics rapidly
 Sensation Seeking
 Racing thoughts
 Inflated Self-Esteem






Indecisive
Change in eating
habits
Sleep disturbance
Fatigue
Difficulty
concentrating
Feelings of
helplessness and
hopelessness
Symptoms Continued…..

Other possible
symptoms:



Paranoia
Misinterpretation
of social cues
Beliefs of special
powers
ACTIVITY
 WHAT
MIGHT CHILDHOOD BIPOLAR
DISORDER LOOK LIKE IN YOUR
CLASSROOM/SCHOOL
ENVIRONMENT?
Observable/Measurable
Behaviors of Bipolar Disorder in
the Classroom






Off task/Inability to
focus
Sleeping/Head on
desk
Rages
Crying
Poor Initiation
Flat affect

Frequent school
absences
 Poor grades
 Physical complaints
Types of Treatment

Psychotherapeutic
Treatments



Cognitive Behavioral
Therapy
Family Therapy
Other Therapies

Medication
Treatments

Other Services
STRATEGY INFORMATION
SHARE

WHAT WORKS?

WHAT DOESN’T?
Helpful Accommodations

Back and Forth Notebook
between home and
school
 Extended time for
tests/assignments
 Late start to school day or
shortened day
 Unlimited access to
bathroom/water
 Extra set of books at
home
 Tool kit to manage
emotions


Calculator for math
Break long tasks into
smaller segments
 Permission to have
snacks
 Alternative/Modified
assignments
 Books on tape
 Natural Light
 Hard copy of notes
Developing A Good Intervention
Plan
STEP I: Establish a team
STEP 2: Get Student Input
STEP 3: Teach Self-Monitoring Techniques
STEP 4: Design Classroom Exit Strategy for
the student
CASE STUDY
JESSICA- 9TH GRADE
AVAILABLE SCHOOL-BASED
SUPPORT SERVICES