Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40539376›Full record

Trial reportEarly intervention in psychiatry2025

Bipolar Early Intervention Using New Digital Technologies (BLEND): A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial of a Novel Blended-Digital Early Intervention Model of Care for Youth With Bipolar Disorder I or II.

Aswin Ratheesh, Jesse Gates, Dylan Hammond, Clare Shelton, Craig Macneil, Melissa Hasty M, Arup Dhar, Simon D'Alfonso, Lianne Schmaal, Lars V Kessing and 8 more

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Early intervention in psychiatry, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

18 authors.

Aswin RatheeshOrygen, Parkville, Australia.
Jesse GatesCentre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
Dylan HammondOrygen, Parkville, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3310-9200
Clare SheltonOrygen Specialist Program, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Australia.
Craig MacneilOrygen Specialist Program, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7075-1593
Melissa Hasty MOrygen Specialist Program, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Australia.
Arup DharOrygen Specialist Program, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Australia.
Simon D'AlfonsoSchool of Computing and Information Systems, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7407-8730
Lianne SchmaalOrygen, Parkville, Australia.
Lars V KessingCopenhagen Affective Disorders Research Center (CADIC), Psychiatric Center Copenhagen, Mental Health Services, Capital Region of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark.
John F GleesonHealthy Brain and Mind Research Centre, Australian Catholic University, Fitzroy, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7969-492X
Chris DaveyDepartment of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
Andrew ChanenOrygen, Parkville, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4468-622X
Greg MurrayCentre for Mental Health and Brain Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Australia.
Sue M CottonOrygen, Parkville, Australia.
Patrick D McGorryOrygen, Parkville, Australia.
Michael BerkInstitute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5554-6946
Mario Alvarez-JimenezOrygen, Parkville, Australia.

Funding

Hearts and Minds InvestmentsNational Health and Medical Research CouncilThe Collie FoundationThe E.H and Marion Flack Trust
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDespite evidence for early interventions for bipolar disorder (BD), there are relatively few accessible treatment models. We developed a digitally augmented model of care termed BLEND (BipoLar early interventions using New Digital technologies) which aims to improve mood symptoms in BD. BLEND includes: (a) guideline-concordant pharmacotherapy; (b) in-person psychological therapies blended with digital therapeutic content and (c) digital relapse monitoring. The aim of this study was twofold: (i) describe the acceptability, safety and feasibility of delivering BLEND and (ii) examine the feasibility of an efficacy trial of BLEND compared with enhanced standard care (ESC).

methodWe conducted a parallel-group, open-label, 2:1 randomised pilot trial within a youth mental-health outpatient service in Melbourne, Australia. We included youth aged 15-25 years with BD I or II, who had not previously accessed multidisciplinary care. All participants received similar background care. BLEND differed from ESC in having manualised blended digital and in-person psychological therapies and digital relapse monitoring.

resultsWe randomised 21 young people over a 12-month recruitment period, predominantly female participants (71.4%) with BD Type II (85.7%). Both treatment models were acceptable and safe, but the BLEND group had greater reductions in suicidal ideation. Among components of BLEND, in-person psychological therapy and psychopharmacological interventions could be delivered with fidelity. Digital therapy engagement was high, but participants used digital relapse monitoring variably.

conclusionsThe BLEND model was safe and acceptable and may lead to improvements in suicidality compared with ESC. Concordant with the aims of a pilot study, there is scope for the content to be rationalised based on feedback to improve feasibility of the digital therapy. Relapse monitoring may usefully be extended to depressive symptoms. The next step is to confirm the efficacy of BLEND compared with standard care.

Indexed as

Bipolar DisorderDigital TechnologyEarly Medical InterventionPsychotherapyAdolescentAdultFeasibility StudiesFemaleHumansMalePilot ProjectsTelemedicineTreatment OutcomeYoung Adultbipolar disorderdepressionearly medical interventionmaniamental healthpilot projectspsychiatry

Identifiers

PMID40539376
PMCPMC12179817

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.