There are currently two trials of online programs that have been designed to improve the wellbeing of both people with bipolar disorder and those closest to them.
Growing need for effective psychosocial treatment for people with bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder is one of the top ten global causes of disability. It can disrupt many parts of life, including relationships, family, work, financial security, and personal goals. While medication remains the treatment mainstay, more is needed to eliminate associated suffering and disability.
Medication and evidence-based psychological treatment can help individuals with bipolar disorder to manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life, wellbeing, and functioning. The challenge is providing scalable and effective psychosocial treatments that are easily accessible so that people affected by bipolar disorder can keep well and lead meaningful and fulfilling lives.
Pioneering program seeks to support people with bipolar disorder in living well
At IMPACT, Dr Lesley Berk and her digital interventions team are spearheading groundbreaking projects to address the need for more effective and accessible psychosocial treatments.
The BipolarWISE study invites participants who have bipolar disorder to participate in a 10-week online group program which focuses on psychoeducation (information, training and support relating to their mental health) in addition to their usual pharmacological treatment.
Participants also have access to an integrated app and individual sessions with the facilitators to assist them in tailoring the program to their needs.
Currently in its early feasibility stages, the study is reaching people across far parts of Australia.
“The online group sessions are based on people learning from each other, and psychoeducation, which involves information, support and skills training,” Dr Berk said. “Everyone has a workbook that they can use during the sessions to record their learnings and experiences.”
The program helps people with balancing mood and activity, getting the most benefit from treatment, developing helpful lifestyle habits, keeping things in perspective, preventing relapse, coping with stress and enjoying life, problem- solving and tolerating distress, enhancing wellbeing, and planning for the future.
BipolarWISE is built on the solid foundation of the MAPS face-to-face group therapy program for people with bipolar disorder, developed by IMPACT’s pioneering team of researchers.
“We have previously run a study of a face-to-face psychoeducation group, and MAPS helped with relapse prevention,” Dr Berk said.
“Importantly, this program occurs in conjunction with the individual’s medication. In fact, people need to be receiving medical treatment to be eligible. Also, this intervention might be best suited to people who are not currently experiencing full bipolar disorder episodes.”
Gathering information for a carer’s resource
The digital interventions team have also been trialling BipolarASSIST, which is an app with information to support close family and friends of people with bipolar disorder.
BipolarASSIST provides interactive information and learning activities about bipolar disorder, how it is treated and managed, how to support and communicate with people who have the condition, and how carers can look after their own wellbeing.
“The research asked people with bipolar disorder, carers and clinicians what information might be useful to include in an information resource to help carers with their vital supportive role,” Dr Berk said.
“In the app, people can create plans to support the person in the different phases of their illness, and they can also create plans to support their wellbeing as carers. They can set goals, and there’s a library where they can access more information about bipolar disorder-related topics as they need it.”
Both BipolarWISE and BipolarASSIST have been developed by experienced researchers and clinicians in the field and co- designed by individuals with lived experience. The research program has been funded by The Acceleration Fund of the Department of Health and Human Services, Healthscope, as well as Barwon Health and Deakin university.
Learning from trials to guide future programs
Dr Berk and her team are now looking at how feasible, useful, cost-effective, relevant and acceptable the trial programs are, and gleaning any information about how they could be improved.
“With BipolarASSIST, carers will use the apps, and then give feedback,” she said. “With BipolarWISE, we’re also looking at how much input from facilitators might be necessary for the program, and what their qualifications might need to be.”
“Given its online nature, the hope is that BipolarWISE would be broadly accessible and beneficial, but we have to make sure of that before it is translated into real-world.”
