Inducing lifestyle regularity in recovering bipolar disorder patients: results from the maintenance therapies in bipolar disorder protocol.
On the basis of theories we articulated in earlier papers (Ehlers et al 1988: Arch Gen Psychiatry 45:948-952, 1993: Depression 1:285-293), we have developed an adjunctive psychosocial intervention for patients with bipolar 1 disorder. Central to this intervention is the establishment of regularity in daily routines. In this report, we present data from a controlled investigation comparing this new treatment, interpersonal and social rhythm therapy (IPSRT), with a conventional medication clinic approach. Despite comparable changes in symptomatology over a treatment period lasting up to 52 weeks, subjects assigned to IPSRT (n = 18) show significantly greater stability (p = .047) of daily routines with increasing time in treatment, while subjects assigned to the medication clinic condition (n = 20) show essentially no change in their social routines as measured by Social Rhythm Metric (SRM-Monk et al 1990: J Nerv Ment Dis 178(2):120-126) score. We conclude that IPSRT is capable of influencing lifestyle regularity in patients with bipolar 1 disorder, with the possible benefit of protection against future affective episodes.
Frank
E
E
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Pennsylvania 15213, USA.
Hlastala
S
S
Ritenour
A
A
Houck
P
P
Tu
X M
XM
Monk
T H
TH
Mallinger
A G
AG
Kupfer
D J
DJ
D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome