Dialectical Behavior Therapy Study for Youth at Risk for Bipolar Disorder
Tests dialectical behavior therapy in young people with bipolar disorder or family risk of it.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Youth With and/or at Familial Risk for Bipolar Disorder
Key facts
- Where
- Toronto, CanadaSee the site
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: NCT05153382, who can take part
Where in Canada
- Centre for Addiction and Mental HealthToronto, CanadaTaking 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?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
- Trial code
- NCT05153382
- Record updated
- 1 October 2026
- Original description
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) will be conducted over 1 year in youth with and/or at familial risk for bipolar disorder (BD). DBT will be divided into two modalities: 1) DBT skills training; and 2) DBT individual therapy sessions. Skills training sessions will incorporate the 5 standard adolescent DBT modules: mindfulness skills, emotion regulation skills, distress tolerance skills, interpersonal skills, and walking the middle path skills and an additional module on psychoeducation about DBT and BD. This study seeks to build upon the knowledge base in this area by offering DBT to youth with and/or at familial risk for BD with an emphasis on predictors and mediators of treatment outcomes.Read full original descriptionShow less
Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Youth With and/or at Familial Risk for Bipolar Disorder: Focus on Predictors and Mediators of Treatment Outcomes
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) will be conducted over 1 year in youth with and/or at familial risk for bipolar disorder (BD). DBT will be divided into two modalities: 1) DBT skills training; and 2) DBT individual therapy sessions. Skills training sessions will incorporate the 5 standard adolescent DBT modules: mindfulness skills, emotion regulation skills, distress tolerance skills, interpersonal skills, and walking the middle path skills and an additional module on psychoeducation about DBT and BD. This study seeks to build upon the knowledge base in this area by offering DBT to youth with and/or at familial risk for BD with an emphasis on predictors and mediators of treatment outcomes.
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; 6a) At least 1 suicide attempt in the past year (actual, interrupted, and/or aborted as measured by the C-SSRS) OR at least 1 preparatory act or behavior in the past year as measured by the C-SSRS OR non-suicidal self-injurious (NSSI) behaviors in the past 3 months (as measured by the C-SSRS) -OR- 6b) Meet youth threshold for at least 2 impulsive behavior categories on question #4 from the SIDP-IV or 1 category is identified as severe (through case discussion that will focus on level of risk, persistence, and impairment); 7) 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.