Clinical Round Table 11 - Novel Approaches to the Treatment of Bipolar Disorder: Bipolar Action Network, Focused Integrated Team-based Treatment for Bipolar Disorder and Bipolar Research Clinic

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a complex mental health condition that leads to serious disruptions in functioning and overall well-being. Despite advancements in psychosocial treatments, many individuals with BD still experience residual symptoms and/or have difficulty accessing effective interventions. This clinical round table will describe three novel approaches to improving outcomes of BD that involve implementing and improving access to psychosocial treatments. The roundtable will also share important lessons that will translate to the treatment of other mental health conditions. First, we will describe the Bipolar Action Network (BAN), a learning health network dedicated to transforming care for BD via the collaboration of several health centers in partnership with stakeholder groups. BAN employs evidence-based key drivers of system change (e.g., hassle-free access to care), a multi-site data collection infrastructure, and quality improvement methods to evaluate real-time system change. Second, the Focused Integrated Team-based Treatment Program for Bipolar Disorder (FITT-BD) increases access to psychosocial treatment for BD by providing stepped care such that interventions (i.e., group-based therapy, self-guided interventions, individual skills training) vary depending on an individual’s current symptoms and functioning. We will share outcome and access data on FITT-BD and discuss its current limitations and future directions. Finally, the Bipolar Research Clinic (BRC), based in Australia, also seeks to improve access to psychosocial interventions for BD. Specifically, the BRC is a first-of-its-kind student-run digital clinic with three core aspects: an assessment and monitoring portal, a therapist-guided Psychoeducation program, and a recovery-oriented Psychoeducation group. Findings from the BRC’s stakeholder and end user consultation utilizing the Centre for eHealth and Wellbeing Research roadmap will be presented, including learnings about the project’s aims, evaluation, model of care, tools, and platform. In sum, these three programs will stimulate important discussion about how to innovate delivery of psychosocial treatments for BD while not sacrificing excellent care and outcomes.