This study evaluated the effects of psychoeducational psychotherapy (PEP) on neurocognitive functions, symptomatology, quality of life, and emotion regulation in euthymic adolescents with bipolar disorder (BD). Thirty-two adolescents with BD were randomized, with 16 receiving PEP. Assessments included the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Stroop Test, Pediatric Quality-of-Life Inventory, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), Affective Reactivity Index, Young Mania Rating Scale, and Children's Depression Rating Scale.
This study aimed to examine the impact of PEP on neurocognitive performance, symptom levels, quality of life, and emotion regulation among euthymic adolescents diagnosed with BD. A total of 32 adolescents meeting diagnostic criteria for BD were randomly assigned to either an intervention group (n = 16), which received PEP, or a control group receiving standard care. Participants were evaluated using a comprehensive assessment battery that included the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and the Stroop Test to measure executive functioning; the Pediatric Quality-of-Life Inventory to assess well-being; the DERS and the Affective Reactivity Index for emotional functioning; and the Young Mania Rating Scale and Children's Depression Rating Scale to evaluate mood symptoms.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
32
PEP is a structured, manualized, family-focused psychotherapy based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Participants were invited to participate in weekly parent and child sessions over a 12-week period. Each session lasted approximately 45-50 minutes, with a total of 24 sessions available throughout the trial. Parental involvement was incorporated into every PEP session, with parents joining for 5-10 minutes at the beginning of each child session to discuss the child's progress and for another 5-10 minutes at the end to review newly introduced material.
Dokuz Eylul University
Izmir, İzmir, Turkey (Türkiye)
the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS)
The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) assesses emotion regulation (ER) problems in adolescents across six domains: goals, strategies, impulsivity, awareness, clarity, and non-acceptance. Higher scores reflect greater ER difficulties. The Turkish version demonstrated good reliability and validity.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Wisconsin Card Sorting Test
WCST is a test reflecting set-shifting which is defined as the flexibility in responses due to changes in reinforcement
Time frame: 12 weeks
The Pediatric Quality of life Inventory (PedsQL)
The PedsQL scale was used to assess problems within the multidimensional health-related quality of life in the last month. This is a modular instrument that is designed to measure health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among children and adolescents aged 2 to 18 years
Time frame: 12 weeks
Affective Reactivity Index-Child and Parent Forms
The Affective Reactivity Index-Child and Parent Forms is a scale developed for the evaluation and monitoring of irritability according to the reports of children and parents. Total scores range from 0 to 12, with higher scores indicating greater levels of irritability and thus a worse clinical outcome.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Young Mania Rating Scale
The Young Mania Rating Scale is an eleven item, likert-type scale that evaluates the symptoms of mania over the previous 48 hours or week, according to clinical observations and patient reports.The total score obtained from the scale ranges from 0 to 60, with higher scores indicating more severe manic symptoms.
Time frame: 12 weeks
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