Behavioural Activation for Bipolar Depression: a case series
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Behavioural Activation for Bipolar Depression (BA-BD): A case series evaluation
IRAS ID
237525
Contact name
Kim Wright
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Exeter
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
Bipolar Disorders affect around 2% of the population. Most people with Bipolar experience depression; these periods can cause difficulties with relationships, work and daily life.\n\nPsychological therapies for “unipolar” depression (for people who experience depression but never mania or hypomania) are widely available, but there is little research in to how effective these therapies are for people with Bipolar. Knowing this could give greater choice to people with Bipolar in terms of the therapy they have, and how easy it is to get within the NHS. One such therapy is called Behavioural Activation (BA). BA is an established therapy for people with unipolar depression. It helps people to re-establish healthier patterns of activity, but so far there is very little research into offering BA to people with BD.\n\nThe current research involves a small number of people with Bipolar Depression receiving BA to see if it seems sensible and worthwhile to them, and to help us to make any necessary improvements to the therapy. The study is taking place in Devon and is sponsored by the University of Exeter. 12 people that are currently experiencing Bipolar Depression who choose to take part will receive up to 20 individual therapy sessions of BA that has been adapted for Bipolar Depression (BA-BD), and will complete regular questionnaires and interviews. The results of this study will not give the final answer on how effective BA is for people with bipolar depression, but will help to plan for a larger study that can answer this question.
REC name
South West - Central Bristol Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/SW/0116
Date of REC Opinion
1 Jun 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion