Examining the effectiveness of group-based interpersonal and social rhythm therapy (IPSRT) as an adjunctive treatment for patients with bipolar disorder: A quasi-experimental study

Background: Bipolar disorder is fundamentally linked to a range of interpersonal issues, which significantly contribute to symptom exacerbation, recurrence, and even the risk of suicide. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of group-based Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy (IPSRT) on mania, suicidal behaviors, and social adjustment in patients with bipolar disorder. Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental study included a pre-test, post-test, and a 3-month follow-up period, with a control group conducted in 2023–2024. Participants received two individual therapy sessions, six group sessions, and 12 weeks of telephone-based therapy. The sample consisted of 20 patients with bipolar disorder and a history of suicide attempts who were randomly assigned to either the experimental (n = 10) or control group (n = 10). The instruments used included the Young Mania Rating Scale, the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R), and the Social Adjustment Scale. Data were then analyzed using SPSS-25. In descriptive statistics, the section reported frequency, standard deviation, and mean. The inferential statistics section reported an analysis of variance with repeated measures. Results: The findings indicated that IPSRT led to significant improvements in suicidal ideation and social adjustment among the participants ( P < 0.01). The between-group effect sizes for suicidal thoughts and social adjustment were 0.61 and 0.29, respectively. Furthermore, while the therapy resulted in improvements in mania symptoms in the experimental group, the between-group effect size for mania was 0.14, which was not statistically significant ( P = 0.11). Conclusions: The results of this study support the positive effect of IPSRT in improving suicidal thoughts and social adjustment in patients with bipolar disorder and a history of suicide attempts.