ThrIVe-B programme for Bipolar Mood Instability: A feasibility study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The clinical and cost effectiveness of adapted Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) for Bipolar Mood Instability in primary care (ThrIVe-B programme): A feasibility study.
IRAS ID
219816
Contact name
Kim Wright
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Devon Partnership NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 2 months, 0 days
Research summary
Bipolar Spectrum Disorders (BDs) include Bipolar Disorder and Cyclothymic Disorder and are fairly common, affecting around 3-4% of people in the U.K. They are very costly, both personally and economically.
BDs often involve episodes of depression and mania lasting for weeks or months. In addition, or alternatively, around half of people with BDs have more frequent swings in mood lasting for hours or days. These frequent mood swings impact on day-to-day coping and increase the chances of additional mental health conditions and full mania or depression.
People with BDs often want psychological treatments, but so far these have focused mainly on the full bipolar episodes rather than mood swings. A treatment that helps people with BDs to manage frequent mood swings could improve day-to-day mental health, and may even reduce the chance of a full episode developing.
With input from patients and clinicians we have developed the ThrIVe-B programme to target frequent bipolar mood swings and the difficulties they can cause. The ThrIVe-B programme involves a course of 15 weekly group sessions, with printed course notes, 8 individual therapy sessions and use of a supporting smartphone application. The course notes can be personalised and provide longer term support. In addition there is a "supporters' session" part way through, and a "reunion" top-up session three months after the programme has ended.
The current research involves a small feasibility study to help plan for a large
clinical trial. Across two locations (Devon and Cumbria) 48 people with frequent bipolar mood swings will be recruited and allocated at random to receive either their usual treatment or usual treatment plus the ThrIVe-B programme. The participants will complete regular questionnaires and interviews. The results will help to plan for a full clinical trial that will ultimately test whether ThrIVe-B is effective and provides good value for money.REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/YH/0105
Date of REC Opinion
25 Apr 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion