Clinical Effectiveness Trial of Adjunctive Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy for Patients With Bipolar Disorder

OBJECTIVE: This study compared relapse rates at 18 months among patients with bipolar disorder who, after discharge from publicly funded mental health services, received either adjunctive interpersonal and social rhythm therapy (IPSRT) or treatment as usual (general practice medical care). METHODS: Patients diagnosed as having a bipolar I or II disorder who had been discharged from publicly funded mental health services in New Zealand during the previous 3 months were randomly assigned to 18 months of IPSRT or to treatment as usual. The primary outcome measure was the Life Interval Follow-Up Evaluation (LIFE) completed at weeks 26, 52, and 78 of treatment. Secondary measures were scores on the Social Adjustment Scale (SAS) and the Quality of Life-Bipolar Disorder Scale (QoL-BD) and readmission to mental health services. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 88 patients. In this intention-to-treat analysis, no significant differences were observed in rates of mood episodes between the groups (odds ratio=0.93, 95% confidence interval=0.37-2.17, p=0.86). A statistically significant difference was seen between the intervention and treatment-as-usual groups in scores on the SAS (effect size=0.5) but not on the QoL-BD. A significantly lower readmission rate was observed among the intervention group. CONCLUSIONS: This pragmatic clinical effectiveness trial found that a combination of IPSRT and medication management over 18 months did not significantly improve mood relapse but did improve patient functioning.