Do we know how psychotherapies for Bipolar Disorder work? A mixed methods investigation of active components and mechanisms of action

While there is reliable evidence for the effectiveness of psychological interventions for bipolar disorder, there is a dearth of research examining how these interventions work. This project investigated two constructs central to understanding how psychotherapies work: Active components (i.e., therapy components that bring about changes in patients), and mechanisms of action (i.e., changes that happen in patients). This project involved two studies. Findings and insights from both studies contribute to the understanding of how psychotherapies work in bipolar disorder, and provides recommendations for future research such as standardised terminology and shared assessment protocols.