Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy for Bipolar Disorder Study

An innovative maintenance treatment for Bipolar Disorder is now being offered that aims to reduce relapse of bipolar episodes as well as reduce levels of stress and anxiety. Mindfulness meditation has been shown to reduce rates of relapse in unipolar depression but this has yet to be investigated in bipolar disorder.

Official Title

Mindfulness based cognitive therapy for Bipolar disorder Study.

Conditions

• Lifetime DSM-IV diagnosis of bipolar I or II

Study Type

Study Design

Further Details

An innovative maintenance treatment for Bipolar Disorder is now being offered that aims to reduce relapse of bipolar episodes as well as reduce levels of stress and anxiety. Mindfulness meditation has been shown to reduce rates of relapse in unipolar depression but this has yet to be investigated in bipolar disorder. The program involves random allocation to either mindfulness-based cognitive therapy or treatment as usual (with the addition of bipolar education material). The therapy will be conducted in a group run by psychologists and is held on a weekly basis for 8 weeks.

Study Start

Eligibility & Criteria

Inclusion criteria: 

• Able to be maintained on mood stabilizing medication for the duration of
  treatment.
• Have a lifetime DSM-IV diagnosis of bipolar I or II.
• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Have at least Year 10 education.
• Be fluent in English.
• Be able to provide informed consent.
• Have a lifetime incidence of at least three bipolar episodes.

Exclusion criteria:

• Receiving formalised psychological therapy while in the treatment phase
  of the study.
• A diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, current
  substance abuse disorder, organic brain syndrome, antisocial or
  borderline personality disorder.
• A serious concurrent medical condition that would impact on the ability to
  participate in the stud.

Total Enrolment

Contact Details

Tania Perich
02 9382 9266 
mindfulbipolar@unsw.edu.au