New study tests tailored therapy for teens with bipolar disorder
NCT ID NCT05153369
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study is testing a personalized, three-level approach to Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for young people aged 13 to 23 who have bipolar disorder or are at high risk due to family history. The goal is to see if matching the intensity of therapy to each person's needs can improve mood, emotional control, and coping skills. The study involves 60 participants and uses questionnaires and interviews to track changes over time.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)-informed care
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could point toward a flexible, personalized approach to managing bipolar disorder in young people, potentially reducing symptoms and improving daily functioning.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study (60 participants) testing a behavioral intervention, so results may not apply to everyone. There is no guarantee that the therapy will outperform standard care.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
-
About 60 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
-
Nov 2021
- Expected to finish
-
Mar 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
13 to 23 years
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1\) 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 Criteria: 1\) 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.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Bipolar disorder are added.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
-
The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
-
The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
-
A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
RECRUITINGToronto, Ontario, M6J 1H4, Canada
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Five sessions to quiet trauma nightmares in bipolar disorder
- Sound waves vs. depression: can focused ultrasound lift mood?
- Smartphone sensors may predict bipolar mood swings before they strike
- Can a 6,000-Person study unlock personalized depression care for asians?
- Zapping the brain to reset mood and metabolism?
- Can learning Self-Compassion break the chains of mental health stigma?