Pilot Study: Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy as a Tool for Prophylactic Mood Stabilizing Therapy in Bipolar Disorder

Douglas Mental Health University Institute

Status: Completed

Conditions: Bipolar Disorder

Treatments: Behavioral: Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00999765

BD-MBCT

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and short-term efficacy of MBCT as an add-on (i.e. patients must be stable with their regular mood stabilizing medication) for the maintenance therapy of bipolar disorder.

Enrollment: 36 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Males or females (>18 years old)
• Bipolar disorder (as per the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders (SCID)(22)), euthymic state: Complete remission for at least four weeks ((Montgomery and Asberg Rating Scale (MADRS) ≤ 6 and item-1 (depressed mood) = 0 and no suicidal ideations (MADRS(item-10) < 4)
• Must have had at least 3 depressive phases in the last 5 years
• Cooperative and willing to complete all the aspects of the study and especially the 45 minutes of exercise per day
• Must have completed a Secondary V (11th grade) education

Exclusion criteria

• Other active psychiatric disorders (as per the SCID)
• Rapid cycling
• Bipolar disorder secondary to a medical condition or substance-induced mood disorder
• Suicidal ideations (MADRS(item 10)>3)
• Active i.e. unstable and/or untreated medical condition
• Substance abuse (defined as per DSM-IV) in the last four weeks
• CBT (No more than four sessions (ever))
• Previous participation in a psychoeducation group within the last 6 months
• Current other psychotherapy (more than once a month)
• Practice of meditation (more than once a month) during the last two years
• Practice of yoga (more than once a week) during the last year
• Previous participation in a MBSR group
• Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) within the last three months

Trial design

36 participants in 1 patient group

Bipolar Disorder - stable

Treatment:

Behavioral: Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy