Effect of dialectical behavior therapy on emotion regulation and mindfulness in patients with bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder is a debilitating mental disorder characterized by recurrent depression, manic, and hypomanic episodes. In recent studies, effect of dialectical behavior therapy on emotion regulation and mindfulness in bipolar disorder has been less addressed. This study aimed to determine the effect of dialectical behavior therapy on emotion regulation and mindfulness in bipolar disorder. Sixty patients with bipolar disorder participated in the present study. They were randomly divided into intervention (dialectical behavior therapy combination with medication) and control (only medication) groups. Questionnaires and tasks were used at baseline, 12 weeks after the intervention, and 3 months after intervention. Participants in the intervention group received twelve 90-min sessions standard dialectical behavior therapy for bipolar disorder. Data were analyzed by repeated measure to compare the groups. According to the results of this study, the intervention group, after 3 months intervention and 3 months follow-up had a lower score in mania and depression, but this deduction was insignificant. Also, the intervention group, after 3 months intervention and 3 months follow-up had a higher score in emotion regulation (F=3.52, P<0.001) and mindfulness (F=2.47, P<0.001). Dialectical behavior therapy along with medication can be effective for bipolar patients and can improve their performance in emotion regulation and mindfulness.