Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) 2023 Update on Clinical Guidelines for Management of Major Depressive Disorder in Adults: Réseau canadien pour les traitements de l'humeur et de l'anxiété (CANMAT) 2023 : Mise à jour des lignes directrices cliniques pour la prise en charge du trouble dépressif majeur chez les adultes.

BACKGROUND: The Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) last published clinical guidelines for the management of major depressive disorder (MDD) in 2016. Owing to advances in the field, an update was needed to incorporate new evidence and provide new and revised recommendations for the assessment and management of MDD in adults. METHODS: CANMAT convened a guidelines editorial group comprised of academic clinicians and patient partners. A systematic literature review was conducted, focusing on systematic reviews and meta-analyses published since the 2016 guidelines. Recommendations were organized by lines of treatment, which were informed by CANMAT-defined levels of evidence and supplemented by clinical support (consisting of expert consensus on safety, tolerability, and feasibility). Drafts were revised based on review by patient partners, expert peer review, and a defined expert consensus process. RESULTS: The updated guidelines comprise eight primary topics, in a question-and-answer format, that map a patient care journey from assessment to selection of evidence-based treatments, prevention of recurrence, and strategies for inadequate response. The guidelines adopt a personalized care approach that emphasizes shared decision-making that reflects the values, preferences, and treatment history of the patient with MDD. Tables provide new and updated recommendations for psychological, pharmacological, lifestyle, complementary and alternative medicine, digital health, and neuromodulation treatments. Caveats and limitations of the evidence are highlighted. CONCLUSIONS: The CANMAT 2023 updated guidelines provide evidence-informed recommendations for the management of MDD, in a clinician-friendly format. These updated guidelines emphasize a collaborative, personalized, and systematic management approach that will help optimize outcomes for adults with MDD.

A randomized controlled trial to compare the effects of time-restricted eating versus Mediterranean diet on symptoms and quality of life in bipolar disorder.

BACKGROUND: The primary objective of this randomized controlled trial (RCT) is to establish the effectiveness of time-restricted eating (TRE) compared with the Mediterranean diet for people with bipolar disorder (BD) who have symptoms of sleep disorders or circadian rhythm sleep-wake disruption. This work builds on the growing evidence that TRE has benefits for improving circadian rhythms. TRE and Mediterranean diet guidance will be offered remotely using self-help materials and an app, with coaching support. METHODS: This study is an international RCT to compare the effectiveness of TRE and the Mediterranean diet. Three hundred participants will be recruited primarily via social media. Main inclusion criteria are: receiving treatment for a diagnosis of BD I or II (confirmed via DIAMOND structured diagnostic interview), endorsement of sleep or circadian problems, self-reported eating window of ≥ 12 h, and no current mood episode, acute suicidality, eating disorder, psychosis, alcohol or substance use disorder, or other health conditions that would interfere with or limit the safety of following the dietary guidance. Participants will be asked to complete baseline daily food logging for two weeks and then will be randomly allocated to follow TRE or the Mediterranean diet for 8 weeks, during which time, they will continue to complete daily food logging. Intervention content will be delivered via an app. Symptom severity interviews will be conducted at baseline; mid-intervention (4 weeks after the intervention begins); end of intervention; and at 6, 9, and 15 months post-baseline by phone or videoconference. Self-rated symptom severity and quality of life data will be gathered at those timepoints, as well as at 16 weeks post baseline. To provide a more refined index of whether TRE successfully decreases emotional lability and improves sleep, participants will be asked to complete a sleep diary (core CSD) each morning and complete six mood assessments per day for eight days at baseline and again at mid-intervention. DISCUSSION: The planned research will provide novel and important information on whether TRE is more beneficial than the Mediterranean diet for reducing mood symptoms and improving quality of life in individuals with BD who also experience sleep or circadian problems. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT06188754.

A Randomized Evaluation of MoodFX, a Patient-Centred e-Health Tool to Support Outcome Measurement for Depression: Une évaluation randomisée de MoodFX, un outil de santé en ligne centré sur le patient pour soutenir la mesure du résultat dans la dépression.

BACKGROUND: e-Health tools using validated questionnaires to assess outcomes may facilitate measurement-based care for psychiatric disorders. MoodFX was created as a free online symptom tracker to support patients for outcome measurement in their depression treatment. We conducted a pilot randomized evaluation to examine its usability, and clinical utility. METHODS: Patients presenting with a major depressive episode (within a major depressive or bipolar disorder) were randomly assigned to receive either MoodFX or a health information website as the intervention and control condition, respectively, with follow-up assessment surveys conducted online at baseline, 8 weeks and 6 months. The primary usability outcomes included the percentage of patients with self-reported use of MoodFX 3 or more times during follow up (indicating minimally adequate usage) and usability measures based on the System Usability Scale (SUS). Secondary clinical outcomes included the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology, Self-Rated (QIDS-SR) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). RESULTS: Forty-nine participants were randomized (24 to MoodFX and 25 to the control condition). Of the 23 participants randomized to MoodFX who completed the user survey, 18 (78%) used MoodFX 3 or more times over the 6 months of the study. The mean SUS score of 72.7 (65th-69th percentile) represents good usability. Compared to the control group, the MoodFX group had significantly better improvement on QIDS-SR and PHQ-9 scores, with large effect sizes and higher response rates at 6 months. There were no differences between conditions on other secondary outcomes such as functioning and quality of life. CONCLUSION: MoodFX demonstrated good usability and was associated with reduction in depressive symptoms. This pilot study supports the use of digital tools in depression treatment.

E-health tools may be useful for measuring and tracking symptoms and other outcomes during treatment for depression. This study is a randomized evaluation of MoodFX, a free web-based app that helps patients track their symptoms using validated questionnaires, and also offers depression information and self-management tips. A total of 49 participants with clinical depression were randomized to using MoodFX or a health information website, for 6 months. In a survey, the participants that used MoodFX found it easy and useful to use. In addition, the participants that used MoodFX had greater improvement in depressive symptoms after 6 months, compared to those who used the health information website. These results suggest that MoodFX may be a useful tool to monitor outcomes and support depression treatment.

Content analysis of Reddit posts about coadministration of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and psilocybin mushrooms.

RATIONALE: Treatments with the serotonergic psychedelic psilocybin are being investigated for multiple neuropsychiatric disorders. Because many patients with these disorders use selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), understanding interactions between psilocybin and SSRIs is critical for evaluating the safety, efficacy, and scalability of psilocybin-based treatments. Current knowledge about these interactions is limited, as most clinical psilocybin research has prohibited concomittant SSRI use. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to explore potential interactions between psilocybin and SSRIs by characterizing peoples' real-world experiences using psilocybin mushrooms and SSRIs together. METHODS: We conducted a systematic search of Reddit for posts describing psilocybin mushroom and SSRI coadministration. We identified 443 eligible posts and applied qualitative content analysis to each. RESULTS: 8% of posts reported negative physical or psychological effects resulting from coadministration. These included 13 reports that may reflect serotonin toxicity, and 1 concerning for a psychotic/manic episode. 54% of posts described reduced intensity of the acute psilocybin experience, but 39% reported unchanged intensity with SSRI coadministration. CONCLUSIONS: Psilocybin's interactions with SSRIs are likely complex and may depend on multiple factors. Prospective studies are needed to evaluate whether psilocybin treatments are reliably safe and effective in the setting of SSRI use.

Values and preferences related to workplace mental health programs and interventions: An international survey.

INTRODUCTION: This study explores the perspectives of workers and managers on workplace programs and interventions that seek to promote mental wellbeing, and prevent and treat mental health conditions The results contributed supporting evidence for the development of the WHO's first global guidelines for mental health and work, which provide evidence-based recommendations to support the implementation of workplace mental health programs and supports, to improve their acceptability, appropriateness, and uptake. METHODS: An international online survey was used to examine the values and preferences among workers and managers related to workplace mental health prevention, protection, promotion, and support programs and services. The survey was made available in English, French, and Spanish and recruitment consisted of convenience sampling. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the survey data. Rapid thematic qualitative analysis was used to analyse the results of open-ended questions. RESULTS: N = 451 responses representing all WHO regions were included in the analysis. These results provide a unique international perspective on programs and supports for mental health at work, from the standpoint of workers and managers. Results suggest that workers value interventions developed in consultation with workers (including indicated, selective and universal interventions), increased training and capacity building among managers, and targeted interventions to address the pervasive impact of stigma on perceptions about mental health at work and help-seeking. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study seek to reflect the perspectives of workers and their managers, and therein to promote improved access, availability and uptake of mental health programs and supports at work and-ultimately- to support the potential of workplaces as environments that promote and support mental health.

Engaging diverse patients in a diverse world: the development and preliminary evaluation of educational modules to support diversity in patient engagement research.

BACKGROUND: Current practices for engaging patients in patient-oriented research (POR) result in a narrow pool of patient perspectives being reflected in POR. This project aims to address gaps in methodological knowledge to foster diversity in POR, through the co-design and evaluation of a series of educational modules for health researchers in British Columbia, Canada. METHODS: Modules were co-created by a team of academic researchers and patient partners from hardly-reached communities. The modules are presented using the Tapestry Tool, an interactive, online educational platform. Our evaluation framework focused on engagement, content quality, and predicted behavior change. The User Engagement Scale short form (UES-SF) measured participants' level of engagement with the modules. Survey evaluation items assessed the content within the modules and participants' perceptions of how the modules will impact their behavior. Evaluation items modeled on the theory of planned behavior, administered before and after viewing the modules, assessed the impact of the modules on participants' perceptions of diversity in POR. RESULTS: Seventy-four health researchers evaluated the modules. Researchers' engagement and ratings of module content were high. Subjective behavioral control over fostering diversity in POR increased significantly after viewing the modules. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest the modules may be an engaging way to provide health researchers with tools and knowledge to increase diversity in health research. Future studies are needed to investigate best practices for engaging with communities not represented in this pilot project, such as children and youth, Indigenous Peoples, and Black communities. While educational interventions represent one route to increasing diversity in POR, individual efforts must occur in tandem with high-level changes that address systemic barriers to engagement.

Patient-Oriented research (POR) recognizes patients as partners in the research process, contributing valuable knowledge and lived experience to improve health outcomes and research translation. Unfortunately, POR presently does not represent all patients: patient partners involved in research tend to be white, middle-class women. Limited diversity in POR may limit research impact, in part because health research is not fully inclusive of the people requiring healthcare services and support. Although they recognize the need for diversity, many health researchers do not understand how to foster this. To empower health researchers with tools and knowledge to foster diversity in POR, we coordinated teams that co-created a set of educational modules. These teams included academic researchers and patient partners from seldom-heard communities in health research. The modules were built using the Tapestry Tool, an interactive, educational platform. We evaluated the modules using online surveys of 74 health researchers for three things: quality of module content, how engaging they were, and how they impacted health researchers' views on diversity in POR. Our results show that the modules' content was high quality and engaging. After viewing the modules, health researchers were more likely to feel like they had a role in engaging with more diverse people in their research, and felt that they had the tools, knowledge, and ability to do so. Education and knowledge for health researchers are a first step to increasing diversity in POR settings, but systemic barriers to inclusion also need attention.

Risks and benefits of psilocybin use in people with bipolar disorder: An international web-based survey on experiences of 'magic mushroom' consumption.

BACKGROUND: Psilocybin, the primary psychoactive component of psychedelic 'magic mushrooms', may have potential for treating depressive symptoms, and consequent applications for bipolar disorder (BD). Knowledge of the risks and benefits of psilocybin in BD is limited to case studies. AIM: To support the design of clinical trials, we surveyed experiences of psilocybin use in people with BD. METHODS: An international web-based survey was used to explore experiences of psilocybin use in people with a self-reported diagnosis of BD. Quantitative findings were summarised using descriptive statistics. Qualitative content analysis was used to investigate free-text responses, with a focus on positive experiences of psilocybin use. RESULTS: A total of 541 people completed the survey (46.4% female, mean 34.1 years old). One-third (32.2%; n = 174) of respondents described new/increasing symptoms after psilocybin trips, prominently manic symptoms, difficulties sleeping and anxiety. No differences in rates of adverse events overall were observed between individuals with BD I compared to BD II. Use of emergency medical services was rare (n = 18; 3.3%), and respondents (even those who experienced adverse effects) indicated that psilocybin use was more helpful than harmful. Quantitative findings elaborated on perceived benefits, as well as the potential for psilocybin trips to contain both positively and negatively received elements. CONCLUSIONS: The subjective benefits of psilocybin use for mental health symptoms reported by survey participants encourage further investigation of psilocybin-based treatments for BD. Clinical trials should incorporate careful monitoring of symptoms, as data suggest that BD symptoms may emerge or intensify following psilocybin use.

Barriers and facilitators to technology-enhanced measurement based care for depression among Canadian clinicians and patients: Results of an online survey.

BACKGROUND: Measurement-based care (MBC) is an evidence-based approach that can improve management of depression, but its use in clinical settings remains low. The use of digital technology, or technology-enhanced MBC (eMBC), may address some of the barriers to implementation of MBC by enabling patients to easily complete outcome assessments. This study aims to identify the perceived facilitators and barriers to MBC and eMBC from both patient and provider perspectives in Canada. METHODS: The study recruited 108 clinicians and 131 patients with a self-reported diagnosis of depression to participate in an online survey about the acceptability of both MBC and eMBC. RESULTS: Most clinicians (90/108, 83.3 %) agreed that MBC is important for clinical judgement, and felt trained to interpret their scores; however, only 43/108 (39.8 %) use MBC routinely. Clinicians (95/108, 88.0 %) felt they would be more likely to use MBC if it was automated and available to use electronically. Most patients (117/131, 89.3 %) felt MBC would be helpful for their treatment and were willing to use a mobile app to track their symptoms. LIMITATIONS: Recruitment was done online and, hence, this study may not capture the perspective of patients who are not already familiar with using online programs to complete questionnaires. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians and patients in Canada would be willing to utilize MBC and eMBC in their psychiatric care, but barriers to implementation include perceptions about efficiency, ease of use, and accessibility. These results highlight the importance of engaging both clinicians and patients to effectively implement MBC and eMBC for depression.

Supporting Self-management and Quality of Life in Bipolar Disorder With the PolarUs App (Alpha): Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study.

BACKGROUND: Quality of life (QoL) is increasingly being recognized as a key outcome of interventions for bipolar disorder (BD). Mobile phone apps can increase access to evidence-based self-management strategies and provide real-time support. However, although individuals with lived experiences desire support with monitoring and improving broader health domains, existing BD apps largely target mood symptoms only. Further, evidence from the broader mobile health (mHealth) literature has shown that the desires and goals of end users are not adequately considered during app development, and as a result, engagement with mental health apps is suboptimal. To capitalize on the potential of apps to optimize wellness in BD, there is a need for interventions developed in consultation with real-world users designed to support QoL self-monitoring and self-management. OBJECTIVE: This mixed methods pilot study was designed to evaluate the alpha version of the newly developed PolarUs app, developed to support QoL self-monitoring and self-management in people with BD. Co-designed using a community-based participatory research framework, the PolarUs app builds on the web-based adaptation of a BD-specific QoL self-assessment measure and integrates material from a web-based portal providing information on evidence-informed self-management strategies in BD. The primary objectives of this project were to evaluate PolarUs app feasibility (via behavioral use metrics), the impact of PolarUs (via the Brief Quality of Life in Bipolar Disorder scale, our primary outcome measure), and explore engagement with the PolarUs app (via quantitative and qualitative methods). METHODS: Participants will be residents of North America (N=150), aged >18 years, with a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision diagnosis of BD type 1, BD type 2, or BD not otherwise specified as assessed by structured diagnostic interview. An embedded mixed methods research design will be adopted; qualitative interviews with a purposefully selected subsample (approximately, n=30) of participants will be conducted to explore in more depth feasibility, impact, and engagement with the PolarUs app over the 12-week study period. RESULTS: At the time of publication of this protocol, the development of the alpha version of the PolarUs app was complete. Participant enrollment has begun in June 2022. Data collection is expected to be completed by December 2022. CONCLUSIONS: Beyond contributing knowledge on the feasibility and impact of a novel app to support QoL and self-management in BD, this study will also provide new insights related to engagement with mHealth apps. Furthermore, it will function as a case study of successful co-design between people with BD, health care providers, and BD researchers, providing a template for the future use of community-based participatory research frameworks in mHealth intervention development. The results will be used to further refine the PolarUs app and inform the design of a larger clinical trial. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/36213.

Mobile Health Applications for Depression in China: A Systematic Review.

Mobile health (mHealth) applications (apps) have the potential to increase access to mental health care. In China, there is growing interest in mHealth apps for depression. Our objective was to systematically review research on mHealth for depression in China to identify benefits and challenges. A systematic literature search was conducted using Chinese and English databases in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Randomized and nonrandomized clinical studies on mHealth apps and depression in China were included. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Seven studies met the inclusion criteria with three randomized trials, two quasi-randomized trials, one clinical trial with an uncertain grouping method, and one study with a single-group design. All studies used the WeChat platform and included activities such as psychoeducation, self-management, supervised group chats, and/or remote contact with a healthcare team, in comparison to usual care. All studies reported significant and large benefits for outcomes, but the risk of bias was high. There are few rigorous evaluations of mHealth apps for depression in China, with all included studies involving WeChat programs and most using WeChat to extend nursing discharge care for inpatients with depression. While these studies showed significant improvement in health outcomes as compared to usual care, the results remain inconclusive because of the high risk of bias. mHealth holds promise for increasing access to mental health care in China, but issues such as efficacy, scalability, patient and clinician acceptability, and data privacy must be addressed.

Blue-Light Therapy for Seasonal and Non-Seasonal Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the efficacy and safety of blue-light therapy in seasonal and non-seasonal major depressive disorder (MDD), by comparison to active and inactive control conditions. METHODS: We searched Web of Science, EMBASE, Medline, PsycInfo, and Clinicaltrials.gov through January 17, 2022, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using search terms for blue/blue-enhanced, light therapy, and depression/seasonal affective disorder. Two independent reviewers extracted data. The primary outcome was the difference in endpoint scores on the Structured Interview Guide for the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale - Seasonal Affective Disorder (SIGH-SAD) or the Structured Interview Guide for the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale with Atypical Depression Supplement (SIGH-ADS) between blue light and comparison conditions. Secondary outcomes were response (≥ 50% improvement from baseline to endpoint on a depression scale) and remission rates (endpoint score in the remission range). RESULTS: Of 582 articles retrieved, we included nine RCTs (n = 347 participants) assessing blue-light therapy. Seven studies had participants with seasonal MDD and two studies included participants with non-seasonal MDD. Four studies compared blue light to an inactive light condition (efficacy studies), and five studies compared it to an active condition (comparison studies). For the primary outcome, a meta-analysis with random-effects models found no evidence for the efficacy of blue-light conditions compared to inactive conditions (mean difference [MD] = 2.43; 95% confidence interval [CI], -1.28 to 6.14, P = 0.20); however, blue-light also showed no differences compared to active conditions (MD = -0.11; 95% CI, -2.38 to 2.16, P = 0.93). There were no significant differences in response and remission rates between blue-light conditions and inactive or active light conditions. Blue-light therapy was overall well-tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy of blue-light therapy in the treatment of seasonal and non-seasonal MDD remains unproven. Future trials should be of longer duration, include larger sample sizes, and attempt to better standardize the parameters of light therapy.

Evaluating the quality, safety, and functionality of commonly used smartphone apps for bipolar disorder mood and sleep self-management.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) are increasingly turning to smartphone applications (apps) for health information and self-management support. While reviews have raised concerns regarding the effectiveness and safety of publicly available apps for BD, apps surveyed may not reflect what individuals with BD are using. The present study had two aims: first, to characterize the use of health apps to support mood and sleep amongst people with BD, and second, to evaluate the quality, safety and functionality of the most commonly used self-management apps. METHODS: A web-based survey was conducted to explore which apps people with BD reported using to support self-management of mood and sleep. The characteristics of the most commonly nominated apps were described using a standardized framework, including their privacy policy, clinical foundations, and functionality. RESULTS: Respondents (n = 919) were 77.9% female with a mean age of 36.9 years. 41.6% of participants (n = 382) reported using a self-management app to support mood or sleep. 110 unique apps were nominated in relation to mood, and 104 unique apps nominated in relation to sleep; however, most apps were only mentioned once. The nine most frequently nominated apps related to mood and sleep were subject to further evaluation. All reviewed apps offered a privacy policy, however user control over data was limited and the complexity of privacy policies was high. Only one app was developed for BD populations. Half of reviewed apps had published peer-reviewed evidence to support their claims of efficacy, but little research was specific to BD. CONCLUSION: Findings illustrate the potential of smartphone apps to increase the reach of psychosocial interventions amongst people with BD. Apps were largely created by commercial developers and designed for the general population, highlighting a gap in the development and dissemination of evidence-informed apps for BD. There may be risks in using generic health apps for BD self-management; clinicians should enquire about patients' app use to foster conversations about their particular benefits and limitations.

Pilot of a Training Format for Clinicians' Continuing Professional Development: Open House With Rotating Short Segments.

INTRODUCTION: Access to continuing professional development offered at lunchtime is limited by hospital scheduling that has staff members taking their lunch breaks at different times. To overcome this barrier, we developed a three-part training format with (1) a focus group segment soliciting participants' opinions on the training's target behavior, (2) a didactic segment introducing tools to support the behavior, and (3) a question-and-answer segment about the session topic. We rotated through these segments, each 15 minutes long, over 3 hours. Participants could join at any segment and experience the full curriculum after 45 minutes. METHODS: We piloted this training format five times at three hospitals. Our training aimed to encourage clinicians to consistently inform involuntary patients about their Mental Health Act rights. We gauged the effect of the training and participants' opinions of the session using the Continuing Professional Development Reaction questionnaire and a session evaluation, respectively. RESULTS: Continuing Professional Development-Reaction results (n = 80) showed a detectable increase in clinicians' intent to consistently give involuntary patients rights advice. Participants reported finding the training organized, informative, and valuable. DISCUSSION: The open house with rotating short segments is a feasible and adaptable training format to engage clinicians in voluntary continuing professional development.

"Supporting Wellness": A depression and bipolar support alliance mixed-methods investigation of lived experience perspectives and priorities for mood disorder treatment.

BACKGROUND: The lived experience of people with mood disorders may be leveraged to inform priorities for research, define key treatment outcomes, and support decision-making in clinical care. The aim of this mixed-methods project was to provide insight into how people with depression and bipolar disorder experience the impact of symptoms, their treatment preferences, and their definitions of wellness. METHODS: The project was implemented in two phases. In Phase 1, community-based participatory research was used to develop a web-based survey enquiring about living with a mood disorder, treatment experiences, and wellness priorities. In Phase 2, a series of focus groups were conducted to explore aspects of wellness in greater detail. RESULTS: Respondents (n= 6153) described the symptoms of mood disorders as having a significant, chronic impact on their lives. A holistic approach to treatment was desired by participants, but not necessarily experienced. Qualitative findings were used to further describe four highly ranked wellness priorities identified in the survey: ability to act independently or according to my own will; purpose in life; getting through the day; and contentment. LIMITATIONS: Experience of a mood disorder was self-reported, and no formal confirmation of diagnosis occurred. Although the survey could not incorporate all possible wellness definitions, this was supplemented by qualitative focus groups. CONCLUSION: The present findings provide important insights from the perspectives of individuals with lived experience of mood disorders. Implications of this for research and clinical practice are discussed, particularly with regards to measurement-based care and use of wellness-oriented clinical outcome assessments.

Functional outcomes with bright light in monotherapy and combined with fluoxetine in patients with major depressive disorder: Results from the LIFE-D trial.

BACKGROUND: Bright light therapy has been shown to improve depressive symptoms in patients with nonseasonal major depressive disorder (MDD) but there are few studies examining functional outcomes. METHODS: We examined secondary functional outcomes in the 8-week randomized, placebo-sham-controlled LIFE-D trial comparing light therapy, fluoxetine, and the combination in patients with nonseasonal MDD. Functional assessments included the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) and, for employed participants, the Lam Employment Absence and Productivity Scale (LEAPS). Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was conducted with SDS and LEAPS change scores from baseline to week 8 as dependent variables, treatment modality (light, fluoxetine) as an independent variable, and baseline SDS and LEAPS scores as covariates. RESULTS: Of 122 randomized participants, SDS data were available for 105 and LEAPS data for 70. For the SDS, there were no interaction effects, but there was a significant small- to medium-sized main effect of light treatment on total SDS scores with corresponding significant effects in the Social Life and Family Life domains, but not in the Work/Study domain. There were no significant interaction or main effects with LEAPS scores. CONCLUSION: Light therapy significantly improved social and family life functioning in patients with MDD. However, work functioning was not significantly improved despite large effect sizes; these results were limited by low statistical power because of small sample sizes. Future studies should use longer treatment durations and be powered to detect clinically relevant differences in functional outcomes.

Mindfulness-based online intervention to improve quality of life in late-stage bipolar disorder: A randomized clinical trial.

Objective: Adjunctive psychological interventions improve outcomes in bipolar disorder (BD), but people in latter stages likely have different clinical needs. The objective here was to test the hypothesis that for people with ≥10 episodes of BD, a brief online mindfulness-based intervention (ORBIT 2.0) improves quality of life (QoL) relative to a Psychoeducation control. Method: A rater-masked, pragmatic superiority randomized clinical trial compared ORBIT 2.0 with active control. Both interventions were 5-week coach-supported programs with treatment as usual continued. Inclusion criteria included age 18-65 years, confirmed diagnosis of BD, and history of ≥10 episodes. Measures were collected at baseline, postintervention, and 3- and 6-month follow-ups. The main outcome was QoL, measured on the Brief Quality of Life in Bipolar Disorder (Brief QoL.BD) at 5 weeks, using intention-to-treat analyses. Results: Among N = 302 randomized participants, the primary hypothesis was not supported (Treatment × Time ß = -0.69, 95% CI [-2.69, 1.31], p = .50). The main effect of Time was not significant in either condition, indicating no improvement in either group. Recruitment was feasible, the platform was safe, both interventions were highly acceptable, but usage was suboptimal. Post hoc analyses found both interventions effective for participants not in remission from depression at baseline. Conclusions: In people with late-stage BD, an online mindfulness-based intervention was not superior to psychoeducational control in improving QoL. Online delivery was found to be safe and acceptable. Future interventions may need to be higher intensity, address engagement challenges, and target more symptomatic individuals. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Digital Health Literacy in Bipolar Disorder: International Web-Based Survey.

BACKGROUND: Web-based resources can support people with bipolar disorder (BD) to improve their knowledge and self-management. However, publicly available resources are heterogeneous in terms of their quality and ease of use. Characterizing digital health literacy (the skillset that enable people to navigate and make use of health information in a web-based context) in BD will support the development of educational resources. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to develop understanding of digital health literacy and its predictors in people with BD. METHODS: A web-based survey was used to explore self-reported digital health literacy (as measured by the e-Health Literacy Scale [eHEALS]) in people with BD. Multiple regression analysis was used to evaluate potential predictors, including demographic/clinical characteristics and technology use. RESULTS: A total of 919 respondents (77.9% female; mean age 36.9 years) completed the survey. Older age (ß=0.09; P=.01), postgraduate education (ß=0.11; P=.01), and current use of self-management apps related to BD (ß=0.13; P<.001) were associated with higher eHEALS ratings. CONCLUSIONS: Levels of self-reported digital health literacy were comparable or higher than other studies in the general population and specific physical/mental health conditions. However, individuals with BD who are younger, have completed less education, or are less familiar with mental health apps may require extra support to safely and productively navigate web-based health resources. Relevant educational initiatives are discussed. Future studies should evaluate skill development interventions for less digitally literate groups.

Use of smartphone apps in bipolar disorder: An international web-based survey of feature preferences and privacy concerns.

BACKGROUND: Smartphone apps have potential for delivering interventions and supporting self-management in bipolar disorder (BD), however clinical trials of mental health apps have high dropout rates and low sustained use in real-world contexts. To support the development of app-based interventions, we explored use of and attitudes towards apps amongst people with BD, specifically concerns about privacy and preferences for various app features. METHODS: An international web-based survey was used to investigate concerns about privacy and the perceived importance of various app features among people with BD. Quantitative findings were summarised using descriptive statistics. Qualitative content analysis was used to investigate free-text responses. RESULTS: A total of 919 people completed the survey; 97.5% reported using smartphone apps in general. Concerns regarding data security were prevalent. Commonly prioritised mHealth features included content quality/accuracy, ease and flexibility of use, cost, and data security. The ability to share data with others, rewards for use, inter-app connectivity, and peer support were endorsed as important by fewer than half of respondents. Qualitative findings suggested that sustained app use could be supported by novel and positive content, customisation, meaningful use of data, interactivity, and perceived real-world benefits. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present study offer important design considerations for the development and evaluation of future app-based interventions for BD. Importantly, some features that have previously been suggested as clinically beneficial or likely to support engagement were perceived ambivalently, emphasising the need for in-depth consultation with potential end users during app development.