Article Version of Record

Mindfulness-based treatment for Bipolar Disorder: A systematic review of the literature

Author(s) / Creator(s)

Bojic, Sanja
Becerra, Rodrigo

Abstract / Description

Despite the increasing number of studies examining the effects of mindfulness interventions on symptoms associated with Bipolar Disorder (BD), the effectiveness of this type of interventions remains unclear. The aim of the present systematic review was to (i) critically review all available evidence on Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) as a form of intervention for BD; (ii) discuss clinical implications of MBCT in treating patients with BD; and (iii) provide a direction for future research. The review presents findings from 13 studies (N = 429) that fulfilled the following selection criteria: (i) included BD patients; (ii) presented results separately for BD patients and control groups (where a control group was available); (iii) implemented MBCT intervention; (iv) were published in English; (v) were published in a peer reviewed journal; and (vi) reported results for adult participants. Although derived from a relatively small number of studies, results from the present review suggest that MBCT is a promising treatment in BD in conjunction with pharmacotherapy. MBCT in BD is associated with improvements in cognitive functioning and emotional regulation, reduction in symptoms of anxiety depression and mania symptoms (when participants had residual manic symptoms prior to MBCT). These, treatment gains were maintained at 12 month follow up when mindfulness was practiced for at least 3 days per week or booster sessions were included. Additionally, the present review outlined some limitations of the current literature on MBCT interventions in BD, including small study sample sizes, lack of active control groups and idiosyncratic modifications to the MBCT intervention across studies. Suggestions for future research included focusing on factors underlying treatment adherence and understanding possible adverse effects of MBCT, which could be of crucial clinical importance.

Keyword(s)

mindfulness literature review Bipolar Disorder Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy

Persistent Identifier

Date of first publication

2017-08-31

Journal title

Europe's Journal of Psychology

Volume

13

Issue

3

Page numbers

573–598

Publisher

PsychOpen GOLD

Publication status

publishedVersion

Review status

peerReviewed

Is version of

Citation

Bojic, S., & Becerra, R. (2017). Mindfulness-based treatment for Bipolar Disorder: A systematic review of the literature. Europe's Journal of Psychology, 13(3), 573–598. https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v13i3.1138
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Bojic, Sanja
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Becerra, Rodrigo
  • PsychArchives acquisition timestamp
    2018-11-21T10:00:02Z
  • Made available on
    2018-11-21T10:00:02Z
  • Date of first publication
    2017-08-31
  • Abstract / Description
    Despite the increasing number of studies examining the effects of mindfulness interventions on symptoms associated with Bipolar Disorder (BD), the effectiveness of this type of interventions remains unclear. The aim of the present systematic review was to (i) critically review all available evidence on Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) as a form of intervention for BD; (ii) discuss clinical implications of MBCT in treating patients with BD; and (iii) provide a direction for future research. The review presents findings from 13 studies (N = 429) that fulfilled the following selection criteria: (i) included BD patients; (ii) presented results separately for BD patients and control groups (where a control group was available); (iii) implemented MBCT intervention; (iv) were published in English; (v) were published in a peer reviewed journal; and (vi) reported results for adult participants. Although derived from a relatively small number of studies, results from the present review suggest that MBCT is a promising treatment in BD in conjunction with pharmacotherapy. MBCT in BD is associated with improvements in cognitive functioning and emotional regulation, reduction in symptoms of anxiety depression and mania symptoms (when participants had residual manic symptoms prior to MBCT). These, treatment gains were maintained at 12 month follow up when mindfulness was practiced for at least 3 days per week or booster sessions were included. Additionally, the present review outlined some limitations of the current literature on MBCT interventions in BD, including small study sample sizes, lack of active control groups and idiosyncratic modifications to the MBCT intervention across studies. Suggestions for future research included focusing on factors underlying treatment adherence and understanding possible adverse effects of MBCT, which could be of crucial clinical importance.
    en_US
  • Publication status
    publishedVersion
  • Review status
    peerReviewed
  • Citation
    Bojic, S., & Becerra, R. (2017). Mindfulness-based treatment for Bipolar Disorder: A systematic review of the literature. Europe's Journal of Psychology, 13(3), 573–598. https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v13i3.1138
  • ISSN
    1841-0413
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/1057
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.1249
  • Language of content
    eng
  • Publisher
    PsychOpen GOLD
  • Is version of
    https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v13i3.1138
  • Keyword(s)
    mindfulness
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    literature review
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    Bipolar Disorder
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy
    en_US
  • Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)
    150
  • Title
    Mindfulness-based treatment for Bipolar Disorder: A systematic review of the literature
    en_US
  • DRO type
    article
  • Issue
    3
  • Journal title
    Europe's Journal of Psychology
  • Page numbers
    573–598
  • Volume
    13
  • Visible tag(s)
    Version of Record