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Bipolar Disorder NOSNCT01520129

Pilot Study of Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy for Subthreshold Bipolar

A study testing Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy in people with Bipolar Disorder NOS, run by University of Pittsburgh at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The investigators propose to conduct a 20 week open pilot study of Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy (IPSRT) to treat individuals (n=18) with subthreshold bipolar (BP) who are currently depressed. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 65 years
Conditions the study is for
Bipolar Disorder NOS
What is being tested?
Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
16 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
Mar 2012to Oct 2014
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 65 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Adults age 18 - 65
  • Meets criteria for bipolar disorder NOS, currently in an episode of major depression, as defined by the DSM-IV (American Psychiatric Association, 1994) and documented by the use of the Structured Clinical Interview for Axis I DSM-IV Disorders (SCID-I), and by a rating of >15 on the 25-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD-25). We will limit inclusion specifically to those individuals who have histories of 1) at least one short (2-3 day) hypomanic episode OR 2) at least one subthreshold hypomanic episode (at least 4 consecutive days of elevated mood and 2 of the other symptoms of hypomania or irritable mood with 3 of the other symptoms of hypomania). NOTE: Like the National Comorbidity Survey Replication, individuals whose hypomania occurred while on antidepressant medication will not be excluded from the trial (Merikangas, personal communication, 2011).
  • Ability and willingness to give informed, written consent.
  • Subjects may participate in this study if they are currently taking psychotropic medications at time of informed consent. They will start study interventions if they still meet eligibility criteria after a one week wash-out period.
  • Ability and willingness to participate in study procedures

Who cannot join

  • Severe or poorly controlled concurrent medical disorders that may cause confounding depressive symptoms (i.e., untreated hypothyroidism or lupus) or require medication(s) that could cause depressive symptoms (i.e., high doses of beta blockers or alpha interferon)
  • Meets criteria for one of the following concurrent DSM-IV psychiatric disorders: any psychotic or organic mental disorder, bipolar I disorder, bipolar II disorder, current alcohol or drug dependence, primary obsessive compulsive disorder or primary eating disorders. (primary refers to the diagnosis associated with the most functional impairment); borderline personality disorder; antisocial personality disorder
  • Acute suicidal or homicidal ideation or requiring psychiatric hospitalization. Subjects who require inpatient treatment will be excluded (or discontinued) from the study and referred to one of WPIC's inpatient mood disorder units, or, if preferred, to an inpatient facility nearer to the patient's home
  • Severe cognitive deficits that would preclude treatment with psychotherapy and/or prevent completion of study questionnaires
  • Non-fluent in English. Subjects must be able to speak and understand English because one of the study interventions, IPSRT, is an experimental talk-therapy. The DMDPP does not have multilingual therapists.
  • Current participation in another form of individual psychotherapy. Concurrent participation in couples therapy, peer support groups (such as Alcoholics Anonymous), or family therapy will be permitted
  • Prior lack of response to a trial of at least 12 weeks of IPSRT conducted by a qualified IPSRT therapist

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • Depression and Manic Depression Prevention Program

    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213

Other trials in United States

About this study

The investigators propose to conduct a 20 week open pilot study of Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy (IPSRT) to treat individuals (n=18) with subthreshold bipolar (BP) who are currently depressed. The investigators will conduct a preliminary evaluation of sleep-wake and social rhythm patterns in study participants using questionnaires and actigraphy. Primary aims of this study are to evaluate feasibility of this treatment and assessment approach. Exploratory aims are to examine 1) sleep-wake and social rhythm patterns in subthreshold BP, 2) impact of IPSRT on symptoms and functioning over time and 3) relationship between sleep-wake and social rhythm patterns and treatment outcomes.

Read the detailed description

Subthreshold bipolar disorder (BP) is a common, understudied, illness associated with high levels of impairment. "Subthreshold" BP refers to individuals who have episodes of both depression and hypomania, but the episodes of hypomania do not last long enough or are characterized by too few symptoms to meet conventional criteria for "threshold" hypomania. Compared to individuals with episodes of depression only (major depressive disorder or MDD), individuals with subthreshold BP have higher rates of suicide, earlier onset of illness, more episodes of depression, and more co-occurring psychiatric disorders. Despite the severity of the disorder, virtually nothing is known about how to treat this illness.

Being tested
Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy
Keywords
Bipolar Disorder, Bipolar NOS, Bipolar Depression
Medical subject headings
Bipolar Disorder

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Interpersonal and social rhythm therapyOther

    Also called IPSRT

    IPSRT Subjects will receive weekly 45 minute sessions of IPSRT for 20 weeks. IPSRT sessions focus on reducing symptoms by teaching patients to: a) increase regularity of social rhythms and regulate sleep-wake cycles; b) resolve interpersonal problems that contribute to mood symptoms (role dispute, role transition, grief, or interpersonal deficits); and c) recognize and accept the symptoms of subthreshold BP disorder (psychoeducation). Although we train therapists in techniques that are specific to each component, in practice, these strategies are administered flexibly and fluidly, without distinct boundaries between modalities. During the course of a session, therapists move seamlessly among the techniques, according to patients' needs.

Study groups in NCT01520129
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Interpersonal and social rhythm therapyOtherIPSRT Subjects will receive weekly 45 minute sessions of IPSRT for 20 weeks. IPSRT sessions focus on reducing symptoms by teaching patients to: a) increase regularity of social rhythms and regulate sleep-wake cycles; b) resolve interpersonal problems that contribute to mood symptoms (role dispute, role transition, grief, or interpersonal deficits); and c) recognize and accept the symptoms of subthreshold BP disorder (psychoeducation). Although we train therapists in techniques that are specific to each component, in practice, these strategies are administered flexibly and fluidly, without distinct boundaries between modalities. During the course of a session, therapists move seamlessly among the techniques, according to patients' needs.
Receives: Other: Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Depression severity

    The primary endpoint is depression severity at week 20, which will be measured via the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression 25-item score (HRSD-25) and the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS).

    Measured: 20 weeks

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted27 Jan 2012 (estimated)
  2. Study startMar 2012
  3. Primary completionOct 2014
  4. Study completionOct 2014

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
16 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT01520129
Sponsor's protocol ID
PRO11110666
Status last verified
Jan 2016
First submitted
24 Jan 2012
Last updated
29 Jan 2016
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy in people with Bipolar Disorder NOS, run by University of Pittsburgh at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 29 Jan 2016. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Depression severity (time frame: 20 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 29 Jan 2016.

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