Support program to help people with bipolar disorder transition from hospital to the community
A Bridge to Better Days: A Pilot Study of a Multimodal Intervention to Support the Successful Transition From Hospital to Community Care for People Living With Bipolar Disorder
NA · McMaster University · NCT07213492
This pilot will try a combined program of group psychoeducation, one-on-one peer support, and clinician-focused help to see if it improves post-discharge outcomes for young adults (18–35) recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder who have had psychosis or limited illness insight.
Quick facts
| Phase | NA |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 10 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 35 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | McMaster University (other) |
| Locations | 1 site (Hamilton, Ontario) |
| Trial ID | NCT07213492 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This is a 6-month, open-label pilot testing a multimodal transitional-care pathway for people with recent-onset bipolar disorder discharged from hospital. The intervention includes six clinician-led group psychoeducation sessions delivered over up to eight weeks, roughly biweekly individual peer-support meetings (about 12 total across six months), and two optional collaborative sessions offering guideline-based support and a clinical decision-support app for participants' community healthcare providers. Ten participants meeting inclusion criteria will be enrolled at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton to estimate recruitment, retention, adherence, satisfaction, and safety and to inform a subsequent randomized trial. Outcomes focus on feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary signals of effectiveness for illness insight, treatment adherence, and symptom management.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are English-speaking adults aged 18–35 who were diagnosed with bipolar disorder within the past 24 months and have experienced psychosis or have limited insight into their illness.
Not a fit: Individuals with severe cognitive impairment, active substance use disorder, severe psychiatric conditions that prevent safe participation, or those who cannot engage in English-language sessions are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this program could reduce early rehospitalizations and improve illness insight, treatment adherence, and symptom management during the vulnerable post-discharge period.
How similar studies have performed: Psychoeducation and peer-support components have shown benefits in mood disorders, but structured multimodal transitional programs specifically for early bipolar disorder are relatively novel and largely untested.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age: Patient-participants must be between 18 and 35 years old. * Diagnosis: Must have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder within the past 24 months. * Clinical Features: Must have experienced psychosis and/or a lack of insight into their illness at the time of enrollment. * Language Proficiency: Must be able to understand and speak English. Exclusion Criteria: * Severe Psychiatric Conditions: Individuals with a severe psychiatric condition that would prevent them from safely engaging in the intervention. * Cognitive or Medical Impairment: Those with significant cognitive impairment or a medical condition that interferes with their ability to participate in psychoeducation or peer-support sessions. * Substance Use Disorder: Individuals with an active substance use disorder that may impact adherence to the intervention. * Language Barriers: Participants who do not speak English and are unable to engage in study sessions without language support. * Concurrent Participation in Similar Programs: Individuals who are already enrolled in another structured psychoeducational or peer-support program that could interfere with study outcomes.
Where this trial is running
Hamilton, Ontario
- St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton — Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (RECRUITING)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Fabiano A. Gomes, MD, Ph.D.
- Email: gomesfs@mcmaster.ca
- Phone: 905-522-1155
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions: Bipolar Disorder, Psychosis, Psychoeducation, Insight, Multimodal Intervention, Early-Stage Bipolar Disorder