By Pauline Anderson
Jan. 13, 2022 — Social rhythm therapy (SRT), which uses #behavioral strategies to support healthy sleep and other routines, is linked to improved mood and reduced #suiciderisk in young people with #bipolardisorder, early research suggests.
The small study also showed SRT is both feasible and acceptable in this #patient population.
Results showed SRT, which was primarily delivered via telehealth sessions, began to show results about 6 weeks into the 12-week program, the researchers note.
“Improving the regularity of daily rhythms like #sleep, physical activity, and social activities can be really robust in improving #mentalhealth and even reducing #suiciderisk,” says study researcher Hilary P. Blumberg, MD, the John and Hope Furth Professor of Psychiatric Neuroscience at Yale School of Medicine.
The findings are published in the December issue of The American Journal of Psychotherapy.
#JamesDonaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space. #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
Trigger for #Depression, Mania
Previous research shows unstable #circadianrhythms may trigger depressive and manic symptoms — and are risk factors for #suicidalthoughts and actions. Although interpersonal and social rhythm therapy (IPSRT) has shown promise in #patients with mood disorders, there is little research focusing only on the social rhythm aspect of the therapy.
The researchers only examined SRT, modified to create a therapeutic program aimed at #adolescents and young #adults.
The study included 13 people (mean age 20) with #bipolardisorder and a score of 15 or more on the Hamilton #Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-29) and/or a score of 12 or more on the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS). They were enrolled in the National Institute of #MentalHealth Brain Emotion Circuitry Targeted Self-Monitoring and Regulation Therapy (BE-SMART) program, which requires MRI sessions at three in-person visits to assess brain changes with the therapy. All but one #patient was taking mood-stabilizing medications.
SRT was delivered in 12 weekly sessions. Most were through on a secure video platform. Three were conducted in person.
Working with a therapist, the #patients were taught how to follow a daily routine. Blumberg notes this is not just a matter of going to #sleep and getting up at the same time every day, but also thoroughly reviewing details of all daily activities and routines, including who participants eat with and when, their exercise schedule, and social engagements.
Each week, participants completed the five-item version of the Social Rhythm Metric. At the end of the intervention, they also completed the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ). Scores on
the CSQ range from 8 to 32, with scores of 26 to 32 indicating “excellent” satisfaction.
In addition, participants and therapists completed the Working Alliance Inventory, which assesses the client-therapist relationship by asking about such things as degree of comfort and respect.
Before and after the intervention, #patients reported the regularity of their social rhythms using the Brief Social Rhythm Scale (BSRS) and risk for #suicidalbehavior using a subscale of the Concise Health Risk Tracking (CHRT) scale.
High Retention, “Excellent Satisfaction”
Results showed 10 of the 13 study participants completed all study procedures. Treatment satisfaction was excellent.
Both therapists and participants had high scores on all aspects of the Working Alliance Inventory scale.
“High treatment retention, excellent client satisfaction, and strong working alliance scores support the feasibility and acceptability of this intervention for #adolescents and young #adults with #bipolardisorder,” the investigators write.
Participants showed significant improvement in social rhythm regularity and reductions in #depression and manic symptoms as well as #suicide propensity. Effect sizes were in the moderate to high range.
By the midpoint of the therapy, there were significant improvements in social rhythm regularity and #suicide propensity and trend-level reductions in #depression, suggesting the potential for early benefits.
Blumberg notes it is difficult to find a therapy that helps with both depressive and mania symptoms. “An antidepressant may reduce #depression, but sometimes can worsen manic symptoms,” she says.
Impact on Emotional Brain Circuitry?
The association between improved regularity of social rhythms and reduced #suicide propensity persisted even after controlling for mood symptom changes.
“#Suiciderisk was reduced not just because subjects were less depressed. There’s something about regularizing rhythms that can reduce #suiciderisk,” Blumberg says.
The reviewers note SRT administered remotely improves accessibility and that this intervention “is well suited to the future of psychotherapy delivery, which will undoubtedly include remote treatment delivery.”
They also note the small number of #patients in the study means the findings should be interpreted cautiously.
The researchers now have early results from the brain scanning component of the study. “Preliminary findings suggest the intervention seems to benefit emotional brain circuitry,” Blumberg says.
“Promising” Results
Michael Thase, MD, professor of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman #School of Medicine, praised the study.
“It’s a very, very promising initial study because even though there’s no control group, it does show that participants liked the program, most finished it, and on average, people got quite a bit better,” says Thase, who was not involved with the research.
The treatment may be especially beneficial for young #patients with #bipolardisorder who, just by their very age, experience lifestyle disruptions, Thase says. Results from a previous study of the therapeutic approach in #adults showed “probably half of the #adults didn’t take to it,” he says.
However, not everyone in this new study benefited either, as some dropped out. “No form of intervention is suitable for everyone,” he says.
The study was supported by grants from the #NationalInstituteofMentalHealth, AIM #Youth #MentalHealth Foundation, Klingenstein Third Generation Foundation, #AmericanFoundationforSuicidePrevention, International #Bipolar Foundation, MQ Brighter Futures Program, For the Love of Travis Foundation, and the John and Hope Furth Endowment. Blumberg and Thase report no relevant financial relationships.
James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
www.StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
JamesD@StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
1-800-745-3161 (voicemail & fax)
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at jamesd@yourgiftoflife.org and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
