Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41572055›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of bipolar disorders2026

A study protocol for the feasibility and acceptability of a personalized early intervention combining light therapy, lifestyle psychoeducation, and imagery-focused cognitive therapy in individuals at risk for bipolar disorder.

Else Treffers, Liselore Snaphaan, Karin C van den Berg, Inge M B Bongers

Registry-linked trialAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International journal of bipolar disorders, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT06282250 (An Explorative and Experimental Study to Assess the Feasibility, Acceptability, and Effectiveness of Early Intervention With Light, Lifestyle and ImCT Therapy in Individuals at Risk for Bipolar Disorder), which is not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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.

NCT06282250 naunknown statusnot on this map

An Explorative and Experimental Study to Assess the Feasibility, Acceptability, and Effectiveness of Early Intervention With Light, Lifestyle and ImCT Therapy in Individuals at Risk for Bipolar Disorder

TypeinterventionalSponsorGeestelijke Gezondheidszorg Eindhoven (GGzE)Ran2024 to 2025Enrolled50ConditionsBipolar Disorder, Mood Swing, Prodromal SymptomsArmsBright light therapy + Psycho-education + Imagery focused Cognitive Therapy, Blue-light blocking glasses + Psycho-education + Imagery focused Cognitive Therapy, Psycho-education + Imagery focused Cognitive Therapy
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

4 authors.

Else TreffersDepartment of Evidence Based Management and Innovation, Institute for Mental Health Care Eindhoven (GGzE), Eindhoven, The Netherlands. e.treffers@tilburguniversity.edu.
Liselore SnaphaanDepartment of Evidence Based Management and Innovation, Institute for Mental Health Care Eindhoven (GGzE), Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
Karin C van den BergDepartment of Psychiatry & Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Inge M B BongersTilburg University, Department of Tranzo, Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences (TSB), Tilburg, The Netherlands.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundBipolar disorder (BD) is a severe mental illness associated with marked functional impairment and reduced life expectancy. Early indicators such as mood instability, circadian rhythm disturbance, and anxiety symptoms often precede the first manic or depressive episode, providing a potential window for preventive intervention. Currently, no structured early intervention program exists for individuals at risk for BD who do not yet meet diagnostic criteria. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a novel, personalized early intervention program combining light therapy, lifestyle psychoeducation, and imagery-focused cognitive therapy (ImCT) for individuals at risk for BD.

methodsThe study employs a single-case experimental A-B-A design with staggered baseline and multiple daily assessments. Fifty participants aged 16-35 years identified as being at risk for BD by a specialized early detection team will be included. The intervention consists of three core components: (1) a chronotherapeutic intervention (bright light therapy or blue-light blocking glasses) tailored to individual symptom profiles; (2) one session of lifestyle-focused psychoeducation targeting sleep, nutrition, and physical activity; and (3) six sessions of ImCT to address mood instability and maladaptive mental imagery. Feasibility and acceptability will be assessed through drop-out rates, adherence, and participant feedback. Secondary outcomes include changes in depressive, hyperactive, anxiety, and imagery-related symptoms, as well as sleep quality and activity levels, measured through validated questionnaires and actigraphy. DISCUSSION: By combining chronotherapeutic, psychological, and lifestyle components, this intervention targets multiple mechanisms implicated in BD risk. Findings will inform the development of preventive strategies for individuals in an at-risk mental state for BD. The study will also provide data on the feasibility of integrating early interventions within routine mental health services and guide the design of future randomized controlled trials.

trial registrationMedical Ethical Committee Brabant (METC Brabant; identifier P2314); ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06282250. Registered 20 February 2024.

Indexed as

At-risk mental stateBipolar disorderCircadian rhythmEarly interventionFeasibilityImagery-focused cognitive therapyLight therapyPsychoeducation

Identifiers

PMID41572055
PMCPMC12909679

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Registered trials

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.