Research Proposal Outline

Research Proposal Outline

The proposed title of the study is the prevalence of depression among bipolar teenagers
aged 14-18. The study will explore the issue of depression among teenagers, specifically those
living with bipolar. Depression is common among adolescents. Some adolescents may
experience episodes of depression due to mood changes and other changes associated with this
phase of development. However, bipolar adolescents also can experience these episodes. This
study will explore the differences between the manifestation of depression among adolescents
living with bipolar and adolescents who have never been diagnosed with the condition.
Research shows that adolescents with bipolar disorder tend to be misdiagnosed in many
cases ((DelBello et al., 2017). In some instances, bipolar disorder is diagnosed as depression.
This is because depression is also common during adolescence, and some symptoms mirror those
of bipolar. In cases where a teenager has bipolar depression, a diagnosis may not be accurately
reached as they may be diagnosed with either bipolar or depression and not both. As a result, this
study will explore bipolar depression and how it is different or similar to depression and bipolar.
It will also look at distinguishing features that may be used to give an accurate diagnosis.
I plan to use the causal-comparative research design. The design will be appropriate for
the planned study because it will allow me as a researcher to compare data on the prevalence of
depression among adolescents living with bipolar against data of adolescents not living with the
condition. Participants will be selected through random sampling. However, a criterion will be
used to ensure that the correct sample is used. Some participants must be living with bipolar at
the time of the study. They must also have had a clinical diagnosis confirming the same. The

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sample will also include adolescents who have never been diagnosed with bipolar. Additionally,
participants must be between 14 and 18 years at the time of the study.

References

DelBello, M. P., Goldman, R., Phillips, D., Deng, L., Cucchiaro, J., & Loebel, A. (2017).
Efficacy and safety of lurasidone in children and adolescents with bipolar I depression: a
double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Journal of the American Academy of Child &
Adolescent Psychiatry, 56(12), 1015-1025.