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Cited by 20Bipolar Disorder and TreatmentMindfulness and Compassion InterventionsPersonality Disorders and Psychopathology

Balancing ACT: evaluating the effectiveness of psychoeducation and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) groups for people with bipolar disorder: study protocol for pilot randomised controlled trial

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O’Donoghue, Emma, Clark, Abigail, Richardson, Matthew, Hodsoll, John, Nandha, Sunil, Morris, Eric, Kane, Fergus, O’Keeffe, Deirdre +2 more·2018·Trials
DOI 10.1186/s13063-018-2789-yPMC PMC6090792
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Bipolar disorder is a chronic and disabling psychiatric condition, characterised by recurrent episodes of mania, hypomania and depression. It places a heavy burden on sufferers and families, with high societal and healthcare costs. Many service users with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder also experience prominent psychotic symptoms, with differential diagnoses of schizoaffective disorder, and relapses characterised by repeated manic psychotic episodes and grandiosity. Such presentations require specific adaptations to standard bipolar disorder interventions in order to address their psychosis, alongside mood regulation, with a particular emphasis on impulsivity, irritability, disinhibition and elation. The Balancing ACT study aims to evaluate an innovative group intervention combining Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and psychoeducation approaches (ACT/PE) with individuals experiencing bipolar disorder and/or symptoms within community psychosis services. METHODS: The Balancing ACT study is a randomised controlled trial comparing Balancing ACT groups (ACT/PE) plus routine care to routine care alone. Balancing ACT (ACT/PE) comprises ten group sessions, each lasting 2 hours, delivered weekly. The primary outcome is psychological wellbeing; secondary outcomes are mental health relapses (measured by service use averages for the 12 months pre baseline and 3 months post baseline). We will also measure mood, distress, recovery and psychological change processes. Participants will be randomised in a 1:1 ratio, after baseline assessment. Outcomes will be assessed by trained assessors blind to treatment condition at 0, 10 and 14 weeks. Recruitment began in April 2017 and is on-going until the end of October 2017. DISCUSSION: The Balancing ACT study will contribute to the currently limited evidence base for psychological interventions for people experiencing bipolar disorder and/or symptoms in the context of community psychosis services. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN73327972 . Registered on 27 March 2017. Balancing ACT: evaluating the effectiveness of psychoeducation and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) groups for people with bipolar disorder.

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  • Overall, results of reviewed studies suggest that ACT may be considered a promising treatment for reducing symptoms of SAD.

    “overall, the results of the reviewed studies suggest that ACT may be considered a promising treatment for reducing the symptoms of SAD.”

    From The role of the acceptance and commitment therapy in the treatment of social anxiety: An updated scoping review. (2022) · cites this paper as O'Donoghue et al., 2018

    The Background describes preliminary evidence for ACT in psychosis and a pilot study in bipolar disorder with co-existing anxiety. It does not report reviewed studies showing reduced SAD symptoms; this is a protocol for a bipolar-disorder trial, not a review of SAD treatment. (LLM, conf=0.82)

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Research works printed but not linked: 18

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Cited by

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Authors
O’Donoghue, E., Clark, A., Richardson, M., Hodsoll, J., Nandha, S., Morris, E., Kane, F., O’Keeffe, D., Butler, L., & Jolley, S.
Affiliations
  • South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
  • King's College London (GB)
  • La Trobe University (AU)
Corresponding author
O’Donoghue, Emma
ORCID
Venue
Trials
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2018-08-13
Volume
19
Issue
1
Pages
436-436
ISSN
1745-6215 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1186/s13063-018-2789-y
PMC
PMC6090792
OpenAlex
W2886085808
Cited by
20
References
10
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1
FWCI
2.16
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Trials (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research Portal (King's College London) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
Guy's and St Thomas' Charity (EFT151106)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Bipolar Disorder and Treatment
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Disorders and Psychopathology
Keywords
bipolar disorder, acceptance and commitment therapy, psychoeducation, group intervention, psychotic symptoms, mood regulation, relapse prevention, psychological well-being, mood episodes
MeSH terms
Bipolar Disorder, Clinical Protocols, Humans, London, Mental Health, Patient Education as Topic, Pilot Projects, Psychotherapy, Group, Quality of Life, Research Design, Time Factors, Treatment Outcome, Mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

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