Effectiveness of Evidence-Based Psychosocial Interventions on Recurrence of Symptoms in Adolescents with Bipolar Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review Study

Ebrahim  Rahbar Karbasdehi; Sogand Ghasemzadeh

doi:10.18502/ssu.v32i2.15382

Ebrahim Rahbar Karbasdehi Department of Psychology and Education of Exceptional Children, Faculty of Psychology and Education, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
Sogand Ghasemzadeh Department of Psychology and Education of Exceptional Children, Faculty of Psychology and Education, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ssu.v32i2.15382

Keywords: Psychosocial intervention, Bipolar disorder, Adolescent, Systematic review.

Abstract

Introduction: Considering the problems of emotion regulation and social skills in adolescents with bipolar spectrum disorders, one of the methods that can help these adolescents is psychosocial intervention. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of evidence-based psychosocial interventions on the recurrence of symptoms in adolescents with bipolar spectrum disorders.

Methods: In the present study, keywords like psychosocial intervention, recurrence, bipolar disorder, bipolar and related disorders, and adolescence were selected based on the database of medical subject headings (MeSH) and searched on English databases such as Scopus, PsycINFO, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar in the period of 2008 (from March) to 2023 (until December). In this study, the PRISMA systematic review study reporting guide was used.

Results: The results of the conducted research indicated the existence of problems in the sleep schedule, emotion regulation, social functioning, and problem-solving skills of these adolescents. Although drug interventions were the front line of mania treatment, psychosocial interventions using models such as psychoeducation, cognitive-behavioral therapy focused on children and families, dialectical behavior therapy, and interpersonal as well as social rhythm therapy has helped the process of treatment stability and effectively prevent the symptoms of the disorder from returning.

Conclusion: Early psychosocial treatment, along with pharmacotherapy intervention, can reduce the negative impact of symptoms and lead to improved short-term and long-term outcomes by equipping adolescents and their families with knowledge and skills to improve understanding and management of the disorder.