MY SISTER HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH BI-POLAR SINCE SHE WAS 15.SHE IS NOW ABOUT TO TURN 31.SHE HAS BEEN IN CENTERS, FARMS, HOSPITALS AND GROUP HOMES. SHE IS A BEAUTIFUL, INTELLIGENT PERSON. DURING A "GOOD" 3 YEARS SHE GOT HER DEGREE. THAT WAS 8 YEARS AGO. DO YOU KNOW OF ANY "**INTENSE**" HEAVILY STAFFED FACILITIES WHERE SHE CAN GET TREATMENT.

MIKE 


Dear Mike -- 
Generally a long-term problem like this requires a really long-term focus for the solution (as opposed to a really intense short term (like even 6 months) plan.  There are very few remaining inpatient programs like the one I think you have in mind.  I believe the Menninger program still has one, as one of my colleagues just sent someone (perhaps somewhat similar) there, although to my knowledge that program still has a very strong psychoanalytic bent and in my view that's not what to be looking for here.  In fact in general those long stay (like 6 months) programs are oriented that way. 

Perhaps a better alternative would be to see if you can get her into the Harvard Bipolar program, then follow whatever recommendation they have for how to do something "intense".  There's also a similarly famous Bipolar program at Stanford, if that coast is a little closer.  Finally, if she can get into the NIMH program for one of their research studies, those are "in-house" (i.e. stay in Wash.,D.C.; sometimes "on campus" in the NIMH research hospital).  Good luck with this project. 

Dr. Phelps  


Published September, 2001