Efficacy of Internet Delivered Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Anxiety and Depression in People with Bipolar Disorder

Abstract BackgroundMindSpot is a national digital mental health service providing free assessment and treatment for anxiety and depression. Mindspot services have been accessed by people with a broad range of psychiatric conditions, including people who report a diagnosis of bipolar disorder (BD). There is comparatively little research reporting the outcome of internet delivered cognitive behaviour therapy (iCBT) for the depressed phase of BD (BDd), including as part of routine care. MethodDemographic characteristics, baseline scores and treatment outcomes were examined for patients who reported taking Lithium and had entries in their clinic records confirming the diagnosis of BD. Results were compared to the clinic benchmarks. Outcomes were completion rates, patient satisfaction and changes in measures of psychological distress, depression and anxiety as measured by the Kessler-10 item (K-10), Patient Health Questionnaire 9 Item (PHQ-9), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale 7 Item (GAD-7), respectively. ResultsA total of 21,745 people completed a MindSpot assessment between January 2013 and December 2019 and enrolled in a MindSpot treatment course. Of these, 124 reported that they were currently taking Lithium, of whom 83 had entries in their clinic records confirming a diagnosis of BD. Mean age of patients with confirmed BD was 43.8 years, compared to the clinic mean of 39.8 years. Their baseline symptom scores were higher than the benchmark. However, reductions in symptoms on the K-10, PHQ-9, and GAD-7 were large (effect sizes > 1.0 on all measures, percentage change between 32.4% and 40%), and lesson completion and satisfaction with the course were also high. ConclusionsMindSpot treatments were effective in treating anxiety and depression in people diagnosed with BD, and the outcomes were comparable to clinic benchmarks. Results suggest that the routine provision of iCBT can help overcome the under-use of evidence based psychological treatments of people with BDd.