Beating Bipolar: exploratory trial of a novel Internet-based psychoeducational treatment for bipolar disorder.
OBJECTIVE
Psychoeducational approaches are promising interventions for the long-term management of bipolar disorder. In consultation with professionals, patients, and their families we have developed a novel web-based psychoeducational intervention for bipolar disorder called Beating Bipolar. We undertook a preliminary exploratory randomized trial to examine efficacy, feasibility and acceptability.


METHODS
This was an exploratory randomized controlled trial of Beating Bipolar (current controlled trials registration number: ISRCTN81375447). The control arm was treatment-as-usual and the a priori primary outcome measure was quality of life [measured by the brief World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) scale]. Secondary outcomes included psychosocial functioning, insight, depressive and manic symptoms and relapse, and use of healthcare resources. Fifty participants were randomized to either the Beating Bipolar intervention plus treatment-as-usual or just treatment-as-usual. The intervention was delivered over a four-month period and outcomes were assessed six months later.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference between the intervention and control groups on the primary outcome measure (total WHOQOL-BREF score) but there was a modest improvement within the psychological subsection of the WHOQOL-BREF for the intervention group relative to the control group. There were no significant differences between the groups on any of the secondary outcome measures.


CONCLUSIONS
Beating Bipolar is potentially a safe and engaging intervention which can be delivered remotely to large numbers of patients with bipolar disorder at relatively low cost. It may have a modest effect on psychological quality of life. Further work is required to establish the impact of this intervention on insight, knowledge, treatment adherence, self-efficacy and self-management skills.
Department of Psychological Medicine and Neurology, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK. smithdj3@cardiff.ac.uk
Daniel J
DJ
Smith
Emily
E
Griffiths
Ria
R
Poole
Arianna
A
di Florio
Emma
E
Barnes
Mark J
MJ
Kelly
Nick
N
Craddock
Kerenza
K
Hood
Sharon
S
Simpson
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D011580:Psychological Techniques; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult