NCT02106078

Internet-Based Interventions for Bipolar Disorder

2/2-A Randomized Trial of Internet-Based Interventions for Bipolar Disorder

• Status: Unknown
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 300 (estimated)
• Sponsor: VA Palo Alto Health Care System · Federal
• Sex: All
• Age: 21 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The investigators hope to learn whether access to online support and education can help people with Bipolar Disorder (BD) better manage their symptoms of depression.

Detailed description

This study will examine if there is a benefit of an online intervention for persons with bipolar diagnoses, and what components appear to be useful. Specifically, the study will examine (1) whether exposure to the MoodSwings 2.0 intervention results in decreased depressive symptoms as measured by the Montgomery Asberg Rating Scale for Depression (MADRS) and (2) whether there is an association between graduated levels of involvement (Level I, 2, or 3) and resulting improvement? We expect that those participants assigned to the control condition (Level 1, peer discussion board only), will have fewer positive outcomes than those in Level 2 (discussion board and psychoeducation) or 3 (discussion board, psychoeducation, and interactive psychosocial tools) conditions.

Conditions

• Bipolar Disorder

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Moderated Discussion Board	All groups will have access to asynchronous, moderated discussion boards. Assignment to discussion board will be stratified by randomization group (Level 1, 2 or 3). Level 1 access to the discussion board will serve as our "peer support" control condition, although we do expect some modest benefit from this intervention alone (Mead et al., 2010). The discussion boards will be moderated by trained clinicians (masters level or higher). Discussion boards will be asynchronous, with all posts screened by the moderator(s) before appearing to the group.
BEHAVIORAL	Psychoeducation	Online psychoeducation is only available to those randomized to Levels 2 and 3. The core modules of MoodSwings 2.0 will use videos and improved organization of content based on feedback from previous pilot work. Module topic areas include: 1. What is bipolar disorder? - Content about symptoms and diagnosis 2. Stress and triggers of illness 3. Medication and the biological basis of bipolar disorder 4. Depression - Symptoms, early detection and helpful strategies 5. Mania and hypomania - Symptoms, early detection and helpful strategies
BEHAVIORAL	Interactive Psychosocial Tools	Online psychosocial tools are only available to those randomized to Level 3. They include structured mood monitoring, medication monitoring, and life charting visual tools. There are also interactive worksheets that encourage awareness of negative thoughts and strategies to challenge them, help participants weight the costs and benefits of different behaviors, problem solving and goal setting, and reinforcing self-affirmation. Participants have the opportunity to build a record of personal triggers of illness and illness profile - including early warning signs, and symptoms typically experienced during an episode of illness, as well as a personal "relapse prevention plan."

Timeline

• Start date: 2014-01-01
• Primary completion: 2015-12-01
• Completion: 2016-06-01
• First posted: 2014-04-07
• Last updated: 2015-09-10

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States