Science News

A new study shows that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) can help the moods of people diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. They did a study with 12 participants who suffer from Bipolar Disorder, they all participated in MBCT and had a three week check-up. They found that the participants had better mindfulness, less depressed moods, less difficulty paying attention, and better control over their emotions.

This article introduced a type of therapy, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, that may improve the well being of those living with chronic mood disorerds. Of course there are other therapys like family therapy and CBT that are being used to treat those with bipolar disorder. However, this article states that mindfulness therapy has shown improvements in all areas of life for those who have a mood disorder. I think it would be amazing if we could find one kind of therapy that shows such improvements to give those with mood disorders hope! 

jPerhaps I just haven't experienced this much, but it seems as though mindfulness isn't talked about much in relation to bipolar disorder. Mindfulness is huge right now and there is a lot of research being done on mindfulness based therapy but I have never seen or heard of anything relating mindfulness and bipolar disorder. However, it makes sense mindfulness therapy could greatly help someone suffering from bipolar disorder. Mindfulness improves emotional regulation and seems to enhance consequential thinking which goes right along with the symptoms of bipolar disorder. A previous article I read discussed apps on phones to help track manic or depressive episodes and hopefully intervene and help client manage their bipolar disorder. I think mindfulness would be a great tool to include in such an app because it can help individuals dealing with bipolar regulate their emotions and establish consequential thinking. Imagine how helpful mindfulness focused around bipolar disorder could potentially be for a person!

I also read an article about children being diagnosed with bipolar disorder and the benefits of finding and understanding this diagnosis early. I wonder what impact mindfulness could have if used with a child who was diagnosed early with bipolar disorder. From what I have read and learned, it seems something like mindfulness could really help kids suffering with bipolar disorder. Kids and adolescents already struggle with emotional regulation and consequential thinking so dealing with bipolar on top of normal developmental phases is probably pretty overwhelming. It seems mindfulness could greatly impact those struggling with bipolar disorder, especially children.