Mani Pavuluri, MD, PhD, FRANZCP

For appointments, please call: (312)996-7723

Treatment Mission

The Pediatric Mood Disorders Clinic's approach is to collaborate with the family and school as we treat children and adolescents with mood disorders. We work with the strengths of children and their families and act as consultants to the family as they navigate their way toward health. We are sensitive to the developmental stages of the child and develop a multi-component intervention program where the unique skills of our team come together. Families are offered a menu of services from which to choose. Although our team may suggest a specific treatment menu, families may select those services that they feel will be most helpful for their child.

Treatment Services

Diagnostic Evaluations: Comprehensive evaluation by our mutlidisciplinary staff. We specifically serve children and adolescents with the spectrum of depression, bipolar disorders, and psychosis as it relates to mood disorders.

Psychopharmacology: Evidence based step-wise management of medication to treat mania, depression, psychosis, aggression, comorbid ADHD and sleep problems in an organized systematic manner. We have researched this treatment method and gained promising outcomes from this careful approach.

Child- and Family-Focused Therapy: Focused psychotherapy that utilizes the following approaches to the treatment of mood disorders:

• cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• interpersonal therapy (IPT)
• family psychoeducation

Rainbow Group: This is an integrated Group Psychotherapy (IGP) CBT/IPT focused program for children and adolescents with Bipolar Spectrum. Group runs a twelve week course with booster sessions that follow completion. Group members can learn:

• How to monitor moods
• How to manage mood instability and irritability
• How to manage impulses
• How to cope with school stresses
• How to maintain self-esteem
• How to use creativity

Parents join the group for 3 of the sessions. Parents are invited each week for the last five minutes of group. Children "show and tell" what was covered in-group.

Rainbow Individual/Family Therapy: We implement Rainbow therapy with both individual families as well as in the group approach.

Hidden Treasures: This is an integrated Group Psychotherapy (IGP) CBT/IPT focused group therapy program for children and adolescents with primary depressive disorder spectrum. Group runs for twelve weeks with booster sessions that follow completion.
Group members can learn:

• How to change negative thoughts
• How to monitor moods
• How to communicate with their family
• How to nurture self esteem
• How to be more social and manage school life
• How to be motivated

Parents join the group for 3 of the sessions. Parents are invited each week for the last five minutes of group. Children "show and tell" what was covered in-group.

Caregivers of Rainbow Group Children: Group for those who care for children and adolescents with bipolar spectrum. Parents participate along with their children in some sessions and receive psychoeducation in other sessions. Topics include peer relations, school issues, discipline, medication management, family issues, and others. Group meets concurrently with Rainbow Group.

Caregivers of Hidden Treasures Group: Group for those who care for children and adolescents with depressive spectrum. Parents participate along with their children in some sessions and receive psychoeducation in other sessions. Topics include peer relations, school issues, discipline, medication management, family issues, and others. Group meets concurrently with Hidden Treasures Group.

School collaboration and consultation: Helping to understand the child's struggles and strengths and determining the best learning environment via regular feedback.

Early Psychosis Intervention Clinic (EPIC)

Our aim is to service all the children at risk (with premorbid symptoms and/or problematic behavior) with psychosis related to mood disorders or those with acute or chronic psychosis. We identify those children with Bipolar Type I with psychosis and those with Major Depressive Disorder with psychosis. Our intentions for the future include developing research in the areas of neuroimaging , and psychopharmacology.

Integrated psychotherapy: Specific to psychosis: involves all components of cognitive behavior therapy, family therapy, psychoeducation , problem solving, and conflict resolution. This will typically follow a brief period of supportive psychotherapy.

Psychopharmacology: Specific management of psychopharmacologic treatments by our team. Providing education about the various medications used and evaluation of effectiveness are provided for children and adolescents with psychosis.

School collaboration and consultation: Helping to understand the child's struggles and strengths and determining the best learning environment

Fees and scheduling of these services can be provided by contacting intake. Please call intake at 312-996-7723 to schedule an initial evaluation. The program coordinator is available at 312-413-1722 with program information only.

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