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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Preventing bipolar relapse with web therapy | Preventing bipolar relapse with web therapy |
| (5 days later) | |
| "I tend to think I am in a film - it's like The Truman Show. I'm the star of the film, off on my own planet. | "I tend to think I am in a film - it's like The Truman Show. I'm the star of the film, off on my own planet. |
| "It's quite pleasurable for me, but a bit strange for other people." | "It's quite pleasurable for me, but a bit strange for other people." |
| Michael, 29, from Cheshire, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder after experiencing these feelings during his "most severe high" while travelling after university. | Michael, 29, from Cheshire, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder after experiencing these feelings during his "most severe high" while travelling after university. |
| A spell in hospital a few years ago led to weekly sessions of therapy for a year which helped him manage the impact mood has on his life. | A spell in hospital a few years ago led to weekly sessions of therapy for a year which helped him manage the impact mood has on his life. |
| But research into web therapy being carried out at Lancaster University may hold the key to ensuring he does not relapse. | But research into web therapy being carried out at Lancaster University may hold the key to ensuring he does not relapse. |
| As a teenager, Michael had noticeable mood swings to the extent that his GP thought he had ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). | As a teenager, Michael had noticeable mood swings to the extent that his GP thought he had ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). |
| But it wasn't until 2007 that he could put a name to the periods of mania which characterise his type of bipolar disorder. | But it wasn't until 2007 that he could put a name to the periods of mania which characterise his type of bipolar disorder. |
| Stabilising his moods and controlling the triggers for his condition are a daily challenge, and yet being bipolar is clearly part of who he is. | Stabilising his moods and controlling the triggers for his condition are a daily challenge, and yet being bipolar is clearly part of who he is. |
| "I'm a very productive person. I have to keep busy and stimulated. People say I'm like a machine sometimes." | "I'm a very productive person. I have to keep busy and stimulated. People say I'm like a machine sometimes." |
| Many jobs | Many jobs |
| Michael has had 30 or 40 jobs since he was 16. He currently combines three different part-time jobs and he writes poetry and tutors in English during his spare time. | Michael has had 30 or 40 jobs since he was 16. He currently combines three different part-time jobs and he writes poetry and tutors in English during his spare time. |
| He can experience weeks of low mood too, but the extreme highs tend to dominate. | He can experience weeks of low mood too, but the extreme highs tend to dominate. |
| Michael says having access to an online psychological resource, which has been developed by a research team at the Spectrum Centre for Mental Health Research in Lancaster, was invaluable because he could tailor it to his own needs. | Michael says having access to an online psychological resource, which has been developed by a research team at the Spectrum Centre for Mental Health Research in Lancaster, was invaluable because he could tailor it to his own needs. |
| Prof Steve Jones, who heads the Spectrum Centre, says web therapy provides an alternative to traditional face-to-face therapies which few people with bipolar actually access. | |
| A controlled trial of 100 people with bipolar, half of whom used the interactive web tool, has produced some encouraging findings, he says. | A controlled trial of 100 people with bipolar, half of whom used the interactive web tool, has produced some encouraging findings, he says. |
| "We provided them with information about what the disorder is and strategies to improve their mood, then we looked at their experiences of recovery and getting on with their lives. | "We provided them with information about what the disorder is and strategies to improve their mood, then we looked at their experiences of recovery and getting on with their lives. |
| "There was a significant increase in people's self-reported recovery. They also felt more positive and optimistic." | "There was a significant increase in people's self-reported recovery. They also felt more positive and optimistic." |
| Limited knowledge | Limited knowledge |
| He puts this down to a limited knowledge of bipolar disorder among GPs and other medical professionals which means there is often a delay in diagnosis and a lack of information about the nature of the disorder. | He puts this down to a limited knowledge of bipolar disorder among GPs and other medical professionals which means there is often a delay in diagnosis and a lack of information about the nature of the disorder. |
| "It still takes 10 to 15 years to get a diagnosis in most cases," he says. | "It still takes 10 to 15 years to get a diagnosis in most cases," he says. |
| "Some clinicians will just tell people what to do without giving any rationale why. As a result people are half-hearted about the treatment and it doesn't seem to work because they don't know what's in it for them." | "Some clinicians will just tell people what to do without giving any rationale why. As a result people are half-hearted about the treatment and it doesn't seem to work because they don't know what's in it for them." |
| By giving individuals more information they in turn gain more autonomy and can learn to manage their own symptoms. | By giving individuals more information they in turn gain more autonomy and can learn to manage their own symptoms. |
| Offering it online makes it accessible to more people too. | Offering it online makes it accessible to more people too. |
| Michael has given his boyfriend and his family access to the online resource so that they can support him in managing his disorder - something he says has been beneficial to them as well. | Michael has given his boyfriend and his family access to the online resource so that they can support him in managing his disorder - something he says has been beneficial to them as well. |
| He says being able to keep his bipolar disorder under control has meant making simple changes to his life. | He says being able to keep his bipolar disorder under control has meant making simple changes to his life. |
| "If I need to eat, I just need to go and do it. If I need to take a break from work, I have to take one. | "If I need to eat, I just need to go and do it. If I need to take a break from work, I have to take one. |
| "When it's mental health, you can't regulate emotions." | "When it's mental health, you can't regulate emotions." |
| He also tries to maintain a routine and a good work-life balance. | He also tries to maintain a routine and a good work-life balance. |
| Another study being carried out at the Centre will look at how best to help parents with bipolar disorder. | Another study being carried out at the Centre will look at how best to help parents with bipolar disorder. |
| "If you are living with a disorder characterised by instability then parenting becomes much more of a challenge than for the rest of us," explains Prof Jones. | "If you are living with a disorder characterised by instability then parenting becomes much more of a challenge than for the rest of us," explains Prof Jones. |
| By creating a multi-media resource for people to increase their confidence in parenting, the aim is to encourage more stable parenting too. | By creating a multi-media resource for people to increase their confidence in parenting, the aim is to encourage more stable parenting too. |
| The knock-on effect may be that their own moods are stabilised and their children become less likely to develop the same bipolar symptoms, which evidence shows is possible in families. | The knock-on effect may be that their own moods are stabilised and their children become less likely to develop the same bipolar symptoms, which evidence shows is possible in families. |