Cognitive Remediation For Bipolar Disorder - Crib Study

We are seeking volunteers with bipolar - type I who are currently doing well to participate in a feasibility trial for cognitive remediation therapy.

The CRiB study

What is the study about?
Thinking skills, such as memory and concentration, are vital for carrying out daily life activities and communicating with others. However, many people who have been given a diagnosis of bipolar disorder face some difficulties with memorising recent information, maintaining their attention on a certain task, planning a course of action and solving problems. Such problems can affect people’s quality of life and may make some everyday tasks difficult. Cognitive remediation therapy (CRT) is a new psychological treatment aiming to tackle such difficulties and improve thinking skills. We are using a computerised version of CRT, called CIRCUITS. It encompasses a series of tasks and exercises, others rather simple, like cognitive puzzles, and others more complex and fairly comparable to real-life problems. Training sessions are held 2-3 times per week (approximately 1 hour) with the help of a therapist, but there are no time limits on how much one can practice CIRCUITS in their own time.

What is the purpose of the study?
This study will investigate whether CIRCUITS is a therapy that people enjoy and find valuable, and whether it can improve people’s thinking skills, functioning in everyday life and achieving personal goals.

What participation involves?
We are looking for 60 people to take part in the current part of the project. Using a random process, 30 people will receive CRT along with continuing their normal treatment, while the rest will be asked to continue their treatment as usual. In addition, all participants will be asked to attend 3 assessment sessions (before the intervention starts; after it has finished; and 3 months later) where they will complete a series of tasks and questionnaires measuring thinking skills, levels of functioning and other things such as symptom measurements.
When data collection has been completed, the two groups (CRT & Treatment-as-usual) will be compared to test CRT effects. All data will be kept confidential throughout and after the completion of the study.

What is the possible benefit of taking part?
CRT has been shown to help people improve their thinking skills as well as their daily life skills. Additionally, your participation will benefit our understanding of bipolar and similar disorders, contributing this way to improving the available treatment for people suffering from these disorders.
We will also give you £20 for each assessment attended as part of the study as a token of thanks.

Am I eligible?
If you are interested in participating, you will need to meet the following criteria to take part:
- be 18-65 old
- have bipolar disorder (type I)
- have no current impairing neurological or neurodegenerative disorder
- have no current substance use disorder