Two Eating Plans Studied Alongside Medication for Bipolar Disorder

Trial details

Who runs it

University of California, Berkeley

Trial code

NCT06188754

Record updated

4 August 2026

Original description

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the effects of two different healthy lifestyles on outcomes for those with bipolar disorder. The goals are to understand the acceptability of time-restricted eating and the mediterranean diet for those who are already receiving medication treatment for bipolar disorder, and to consider how these two food plans predict changes in manic symptoms, depressive symptoms, and Quality of Life. Participants will complete daily measures of eating, sleep and mood for two weeks, and then will be assigned to follow one of the two food plans for eight weeks. The investigators will measure symptoms and Quality of Life at baseline and during and after the food plan.Read full original descriptionShow less

Time-restricted Eating vs. Mediterranean Diet as Adjunctive Interventions for Bipolar Disorder

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the effects of two different healthy lifestyles on outcomes for those with bipolar disorder. The goals are to understand the acceptability of time-restricted eating and the mediterranean diet for those who are already receiving medication treatment for bipolar disorder, and to consider how these two food plans predict changes in manic symptoms, depressive symptoms, and Quality of Life. Participants will complete daily measures of eating, sleep and mood for two weeks, and then will be assigned to follow one of the two food plans for eight weeks. The investigators will measure symptoms and Quality of Life at baseline and during and after the food plan.

Inclusion: meets diagnostic criteria for bipolar I disorder or bipolar II disorder (but not cyclothymia, BD Not otherwise specified or BD due to another medical condition); current sleep (insomnia, hypersomnolence) or circadian sleep-wake (delayed phase, advanced phase, irregular sleep-wake, non-24-hour sleep-wake-type) concerns indicated by endorsement of at least some sleep or circadian-related impairment across the screening self-reports or interview; Living in an English-speaking country (and one that we have expertise in research procedures and diet); Has been speaking English for at least 10 years, speaks English in the home, or certifies that they are able to understand English well for the study and demonstrates this during the screening interview; Receiving medical care for BD (referrals will be provided for those who would like to begin care); Mood-stabilizing medication regimens stable for at least one month; < 5 kg weight change in the past 3 months; Currently eating ≥ 12 hours per day at least twice per week; Able to operate the camera function and respond to web-based surveys by phone (loaner phones will be provided as needed); Not engaged in current shift work or have other responsibilities such as providing care that would chronically disrupt their sleep (i.e., > 3 h between 22:00 and 05:00 h for at least 1 day/week); Able to complete 7 days of dietary logs adequately (e.g., at least 2 entries per day, covering at least a 5-hour eating window) during the baseline period; Able to complete screening and baseline questionnaires adequately (e.g., not failing more than 1 attention check item with instructed responding; responding to standard multiple-choice items in a mean of < 2 seconds per item). Where individuals respond to more than 14 items in a row with the same response, we will manually review for possible invalidity.

Exclusion: Current episode of depression, hypomania or mania, or psychosis (assessed by the aDiagnostic Interview for Anxiety, Mood, and Obsessive-compulsive and Related Neuropsychiatric Disorders; DIAMOND), Participants with acute mood disorder episodes will be encouraged to seek treatment and to consider the study when symptoms have remitted; Eating disorder diagnosis (by self-report of treatment or diagnosis at any point during their life, Short Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-QS) scores above clinical concern thresholds for eating disorders, or DIAMOND interview of symptoms during adulthood); Past 3-month alcohol use disorder or substance use disorder (assessed by DIAMOND); Conditions that would interfere with ability to take part in the intervention , including pregnancy, breastfeeding, uncorrected hypo or hyperthyroidism, gastrointestinal conditions impairing nutrient absorption,; Medical conditions such as HIV, AIDS, lupus, or multiple sclerosis that could confound the assessment of mania or other measures; Medications contraindicated for fasting: clozapine, glucose-lowering medications, diabetes-related injections, medications requiring food early morning or late evening, corticosteroids; medications such as semaglutide will not be an exclusion criteria; Active suicidal ideation coupled with plan, intent or attempt history as assessed by Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale; Cognitive deficits as noted during the initial interview or as indicated by low performance on the Short Orientation Memory Concentration Test (< 20 on the weighted score).

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06188754