Talk therapy levels for youth with or at risk of bipolar disorder
Tests DBT doses in youth with bipolar disorder or family risk.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Three-level Model of DBT-informed Care for Youth With and/or at Familial Risk for Bipolar Disorder (DB3)
Key facts
- Where
- Toronto, CanadaSee the site
AI summary: who the study is looking for
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.
The trial is looking for young people aged 13 to 23 who have bipolar disorder, or who have a parent or sibling with bipolar disorder.
- Age
- 13 years to 23 years (13 years 0 months up to 23 years 11 months).
- Sex
- All sexes can join.
- Disease stage
- Bipolar disorder confirmed by a diagnostic interview, or a biological parent or sibling with bipolar disorder type I or II confirmed by interview.
- Earlier treatment
- People with bipolar I must be taking at least 1 mood stabilizing medicine. They must be followed by a psychiatrist who gives ongoing care.
Main reasons for not taking part
- Not English-speaking
- Intellectual disability, moderate to severe autism, or brain disorder that would get in the way of taking part in DBT
- Life-threatening medical condition needing immediate treatment
- Current victim of sexual or physical abuse
- Current substance use disorder, other than mild cannabis or alcohol use disorder
Read by machine on 12 November 2026.
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 13 and 23 years old?
Source: NCT05153369, who can take part
Where in Canada
- Centre for Addiction and Mental HealthToronto, CanadaContact: Amanda Moss, MSWTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorTrial details
- Who runs it
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
- Trial code
- NCT05153369
- Record updated
- 1 October 2026
- Original description
This study seeks to bridge the knowledge-to-action gap regarding psychosocial treatment "dosing" for youth with and/or at familial risk for bipolar disorder (BD). In psychiatry, pragmatic collaborative decisions between patient and care provider about pharmacological titrations and tapers are common. Less frequently are there considerations made regarding the pragmatic dosing of psychosocial interventions. Whereas some youth clearly require full/"high-dose" treatment, others may benefit from "lower-dose" interventions, alongside re-evaluation of dosing needs over time. Furthermore, there is a subset of youth who do not require or do not want the intensity and frequency of treatment that current interventions provide. This research presents a unique opportunity to better understand different levels of care within a subspecialized outpatient mental health clinic serving youth with and/or at familial risk for BD who vary greatly in terms of risk indicators, type and severity of symptoms, associated distress, and compounding functional impairment.Read full original descriptionShow less
Personalized and Pragmatic Three-level Model of DBT-informed Care for Youth With and/or at Familial Risk for Bipolar Disorder
This study seeks to bridge the knowledge-to-action gap regarding psychosocial treatment "dosing" for youth with and/or at familial risk for bipolar disorder (BD). In psychiatry, pragmatic collaborative decisions between patient and care provider about pharmacological titrations and tapers are common. Less frequently are there considerations made regarding the pragmatic dosing of psychosocial interventions. Whereas some youth clearly require full/"high-dose" treatment, others may benefit from "lower-dose" interventions, alongside re-evaluation of dosing needs over time. Furthermore, there is a subset of youth who do not require or do not want the intensity and frequency of treatment that current interventions provide. This research presents a unique opportunity to better understand different levels of care within a subspecialized outpatient mental health clinic serving youth with and/or at familial risk for BD who vary greatly in terms of risk indicators, type and severity of symptoms, associated distress, and compounding functional impairment.
Inclusion: English-speaking; 2) Age 13 years, 0 months to 23 years, 11 months; 3) Meet diagnostic criteria for BD by KSADS-PL (< 20 years of age) or SCID-5-RV (≥ 20 years of age) OR have a biological parent/sibling with BD (type I or II) confirmed via KSADS-PL or SCID-5-RV; 4) If BD-I, taking ≥1 mood stabilizing medication (i.e., antimanic anticonvulsant, antipsychotic, and/or lithium); 5) Followed by a psychiatrist who provides ongoing care; 6) Able and willing to give informed consent/assent to participate.
Exclusion: Evidence of mental retardation, moderate to severe autism spectrum disorder, or organic central nervous system disorder by the K-SADS-PL (< 20 years of age), parent report, medical history, or school records that would interfere with active participation in DBT; 2) A life-threatening medical condition requiring immediate treatment; 3) Current victim of sexual or physical abuse; 4) Current substance use disorder other than mild cannabis or alcohol use disorder; 5) Meets assessment criteria for Level 3 at enrollment.