Bipolar Disorder Education Program

Description:

The Bipolar Disorder Education Program is designed to help people with bipolar disorder and their families better understand the condition, develop effective coping strategies and enhance treatment compliance. The program consists of nine audio-visual modules, comprising of evidence-based information about bipolar disorder, supplemented by practical advice and testimonies from people with the condition. The content of the modules can be downloaded for reference offline in a format suitable for printing. Modules vary in length from approximately 5 to 25 minutes and can be accessed in any order.

Service URL:

http://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/public/bipolardisorder/bipolareducationprogram.cfm

Agency Responsible:

The Black Dog Institute.

Details

Format:

Website.

Intervention Type:

Educational (primarily educational material or psychoeducation).

Course Length:

Long (more than 5 modules). 9 modules

Support Option:

No support.

Target Audience

Primary Category:

Bipolar Disorder.

Target Audiences:

Adolescent and Adult.

Language:

English.

Access

Fee:

Free.

Access:

Open: No registration required.

Contact Details:

onlineprograms@unsw.edu.au

Research evidence

Research Trials:

1

Research RCTs:

0

Outcome Summary:

The effectiveness of the Bipolar Education Program has been evaluated in one study.  Participants were randomly assigned to either a Bipolar Education Program group, Bipolar Education plus online peer support, or a control group who received simple information about Bipolar.  All groups showed significant improvements in levels of anxiety and depression – but there were no significant differences between the groups.  Therefore this study provides weak evidence in support of this specific online program.

Recommended rating, reviewer 1:

Recommended rating, reviewer 2:

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Research paper citations

Evidence evaluation studies:

Proudfoot, J., Parker, G., Manicavasagar, V., Hadzi-Pavlovic, D., Whitton, A., Nicholas, J., ... & Burckhardt, R. (2012). Effects of adjunctive peer support on perceptions of illness control and understanding in an online psychoeducation program for bipolar disorder: a randomised controlled trial. Journal of affective disorders, 142(1), 98-105.

Additional refences:

Nicholas, J., Proudfoot, J., Parker, G., Gillis, I., Burckhardt, R., Manicavasagar, V., & Smith, M. (2010). The ins and outs of an online bipolar education program: a study of program attrition. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 12(5), e57.

Proudfoot, J., Parker, G., Hyett, M., Manicavasagar, V., Smith, M., Grdovic, S., & Greenfield, L. (2007). Next generation of self-management education: Web-based bipolar disorder program. The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 41(11), 903-909.

Proudfoot, J. G., Jayawant, A., Whitton, A. E., Parker, G., Manicavasagar, V., Smith, M., & Nicholas, J. (2012). Mechanisms underpinning effective peer support: a qualitative analysis of interactions between expert peers and patients newly-diagnosed with bipolar disorder. BMC psychiatry, 12(1), 196.

Proudfoot, J., Whitton, A. E., Parker, G., Manicavasagar, V., Nicholas, J., & Smith, M. (2014). Evidence of weekly cyclicity in mood and functional impairment in those with a bipolar disorder. Psychiatry research, 218(3), 290-294.