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A New Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Intervention for people with Bipolar Disorder






Posted by Tony Flynn on 17th January 2012 at 12:30 PM
A New Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Intervention for people with Bipolar Disorder
Greater Manchester West Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMW) have launched a research project in partnership with the University of Manchester to evaluate new cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for bipolar disorder called TEAMS (Think Effectively About Mood Swings).

This trial is being run by Clinical Psychologists Dr Sara Tai and Dr Warren Mansell.
The research will involve people who have bipolar disorder or are experiencing distressing mood swings to take part in the project.

Participants should not currently be in-patients and they must want help with their current mood, anxiety and other difficulties. Participants will be randomly allocated to either receive sixteen sessions of TEAMS or to continue receiving their usual treatment. Follow up meetings and telephone calls to see how effective the therapy has been. Participants who meet with the research assistant in person for follow-up meetings will receive £10 token of appreciation at each meeting.

TEAMS is a development on CBT which is based on what has been learnt from years of research and practice. This therapy focuses on the thinking and behaviour patterns involved in mood swings. TEAMS aims to help people manage problematic and distressing experiences such as depressed mood, irritability and anxiety. TEAMS also helps people to think differently about their moods in ways which are most effective for them to achieve important life goals.

The therapy has already been used with a small number of clients who have reported improvement and viewed the therapy in a positive light. We now wish to evaluate the effects of receiving the therapy in addition to people’s normal treatment – Treatment as Usual (TAU). This study would help us see what people think about receiving TEAMS and TAU and let us know if we need to make any further improvements.

The therapy sessions are scheduled to start in Greater Manchester West from now until September 2014. If you would like more information about the trial, or are interested in taking part please contact Anna Ridding (email: anna.ridding@gmw.nhs.uk) or Sarah Alsawy (email: sarah.alsawy@gmw.nhs.uk).


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