Emma Gliddon1,2, Victoria Cosgrove3,4, Lesley Berk1,2,5, Sue Lauder2,6, Mohammadreza Mohebbi1,7, David Grimm3,8, Seetal Dodd1,2,9, Carolyn Coulson1,2, Karishma Raju3, Trisha Suppes3,4, Michael Berk1,2,9,10. 1. IMPACT Strategic Research Centre, Barwon Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia. 2. Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia. 3. Bipolar and Depression Research Program, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA. 4. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA. 5. School of Population Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia. 6. Faculty of Health, School of Health Sciences and Psychology, Federation University Australia, Ballarat, Australia. 7. Deakin Biostatistics Unit, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia. 8. Systems Psychology Lab, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA. 9. Orygen, the National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Melbourne, Australia. 10. Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Australia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES:MoodSwings 2.0 is an online self-guided intervention for bipolar disorder that includes educational modules, interactive tools, and discussion forums. The primary aim of the study was to determine if participation in MoodSwings 2.0 would result in decreased symptoms of depression and mania compared to the control condition. Secondary aims were to identify improvements in core depression symptoms, quality of life, medication adherence, functioning, and time to relapse. METHODS: This was a three-arm randomized controlled trial that compared two intervention arms against a peer support control group (forum). A total of 304 adults aged 21 to 65 years with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder were assigned to a forum-only control group (Group 1; n = 102), a forum plus modules treatment group (Group 2; n = 102), or a forum, modules, and tools treatment group (Group 3; n = 100), in addition to usual care. RESULTS: There was a significant intervention impact showing improvement on the primary outcome of depression for Group 2 compared to Group 1 (P = .05) with effect sizes (Cohen's d) ranging from 0.17 to 0.43. There was also a significant intervention impact showing improvement on the secondary outcome of core depression for Group 2 (P = .02) and Group 3 (P = .05), but worse physical functioning for Group 3 (P = .01), compared to Group 1. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence of the efficacy of internet-based psychoeducation interventions for bipolar disorder in reducing depressive symptoms. Further investigation is needed to assess effectiveness in a public program.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVES: MoodSwings 2.0 is an online self-guided intervention for bipolar disorder that includes educational modules, interactive tools, and discussion forums. The primary aim of the study was to determine if participation in MoodSwings 2.0 would result in decreased symptoms of depression and mania compared to the control condition. Secondary aims were to identify improvements in core depression symptoms, quality of life, medication adherence, functioning, and time to relapse. METHODS: This was a three-arm randomized controlled trial that compared two intervention arms against a peer support control group (forum). A total of 304 adults aged 21 to 65 years with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder were assigned to a forum-only control group (Group 1; n = 102), a forum plus modules treatment group (Group 2; n = 102), or a forum, modules, and tools treatment group (Group 3; n = 100), in addition to usual care. RESULTS: There was a significant intervention impact showing improvement on the primary outcome of depression for Group 2 compared to Group 1 (P = .05) with effect sizes (Cohen's d) ranging from 0.17 to 0.43. There was also a significant intervention impact showing improvement on the secondary outcome of core depression for Group 2 (P = .02) and Group 3 (P = .05), but worse physical functioning for Group 3 (P = .01), compared to Group 1. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence of the efficacy of internet-based psychoeducation interventions for bipolar disorder in reducing depressive symptoms. Further investigation is needed to assess effectiveness in a public program.
Authors: Sarah E Lord; Aimee N C Campbell; Mary F Brunette; Leonardo Cubillos; Sophia M Bartels; William C Torrey; Ardis L Olson; Steven H Chapman; John A Batsis; Daniel Polsky; Edward V Nunes; Katherine M Seavey; Lisa A Marsch Journal: JMIR Ment Health Date: 2021-01-28