Behavioural Activation for Bipolar Depression

Launched by REYKJAVIK UNIVERSITY · Aug 28, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a type of therapy called Behavioral Activation (BA) to see if it can help people with Bipolar Depression. Bipolar Disorder can cause extreme mood swings, including episodes of depression, and while there are many therapies for depression, there hasn't been much research on how effective they are for people with Bipolar Disorder. The goal of this study is to find out if BA can be a useful treatment for these individuals, and researchers will look at how well the therapy works for them.

To participate, individuals must be between the ages of 65 and 74, have a diagnosis of Bipolar I or II Disorder, and be currently experiencing depression. Participants will receive up to 20 sessions of the BA therapy, which has been specially adapted for Bipolar Depression. They will also fill out questionnaires and have interviews to help measure the therapy's effectiveness. It’s important to note that those with certain conditions, like severe learning disabilities or substance dependence, or who are currently receiving other therapies for their depression, may not be eligible for this trial.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • scoring in the clinical range on a self-report measure of depression severity (the PHQ-9) meeting diagnostic criteria for depression based on a diagnosis on Diagnostic Interview for Anxiety, Mood, and OCD and Related Neuropsychiatric Disorders (DIAMOND)
• • meeting diagnostic criteria for Bipolar I or II Disorder DIAMOND) participants will require a working knowledge of written and spoken Icelandic, sufficient to make use of therapy and complete research assessments without the need for a translator.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • current/past learning disability, organic brain change, substance dependence (drugs and alcohol) that would compromise the ability to use therapy
• • current marked risk to self (i.e., self-harm or suicide) that we deem could not be appropriately managed in the Bipolar outpatient clinic at Landspitali.
• • currently lacking the capacity to give informed consent
• • currently receiving other psychosocial therapy for depression or bipolar disorder
• • presence of another area of difficulty that the therapist and client believe should be the primary focus of intervention (for example, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, psychosis)