Observational Study on Bipolar Disorder Episodes in Veterans

This study is looking at how to better predict upcoming mood episodes in veterans with bipolar disorder (BD). People with BD often have unpredictable periods of severe problems with social activities. While treatments exist, it's hard to catch these episodes early because people might not realize their symptoms are worsening, and doctor visits aren't frequent enough. This study aims to find new ways to detect these changes without relying on a person's self-reporting or frequent clinic visits. Researchers will be tracking how social participation, depression symptoms (using the Modified Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression), and mania symptoms (using the Young Mania Rating Scale) change over 14 weeks. You could be eligible if you are a veteran, 18 or older, and have a confirmed diagnosis of Bipolar I, Bipolar II, or Other Specified Bipolar Disorder.

Study design
This is an observational study with a planned enrollment of 200 participants. It is not testing a specific intervention or drug.
What's involved
You would have your social participation measured biweekly for 14 weeks, and your depression and mania symptoms measured weekly for 14 weeks.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your participation, depression, and mania symptoms will be tracked for 14 weeks.

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NCT06204705

mHealth Estimate-based Algorithms Signaling Upcoming Recurrence of Episodes in Bipolar Disorders

Recruiting
Not specifiedAges 18+Observational
VA Office of Research and Development
~200 participants
Updated 2026-04-24 on ClinicalTrials.gov

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Impaired Social Participation
Measured over Biweekly for 14 weeks
+3 more outcomes measured
Bipolar Disorder
1 sites across 1 states
Minnesota1
  • Snezana Urosevic, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Veteran participants will have a confirmed primary diagnosis of a Bipolar I Disorder, Bipolar II Disorder or Other Specified Bipolar Disorder (i.e., those with major depressive episodes and hypomania that meets all episode criteria but for duration) based on the clinical Interview for DSM-5-Research Version (SCID-5-RV), medical chart review and consensus procedure directed by the PI
All Veteran participants will endorse presence of at least one bipolar episode in the last 12 months based on the interview and/or medical chart information
All Veteran participants will own a smartphone capable of running all study apps
All participants will be age 18 years or older
All participants will be fluent in English
All Veteran participants will be able to demonstrate capacity for consent (see below) and have no active court-appointed legal guardianship precluding ability to provide consent
Focus group participants will be active Minneapolis VAHCS providers and administrators who are either actively engaged in care for Veterans with BD or involved in administrative roles overseeing mental health care of Veterans within Minneapolis VAHCS

Exclusion

Presence of a major neurocognitive disorder or neurological disorder, such as Alzheimer's dementia, vascular dementia, Parkinson's disease, etc.
Impaired global cognition (MoCA score \< 20 for in-person assessment, or equivalent score on "blind" MoCA for virtual assessments)
Presence of physical conditions preventing use of smartphone apps Lack of capacity to provide informed consent
Age \< 18 years
No exclusion for focus group participants as their VA status employment will be taken to indicate age of majority, intact global cognition, etc.
  • Impaired Social ParticipationBiweekly for 14 weeks

    To determine presence of impaired social participation, an average of T scores will be calculated from two scales: PROMIS Satisfaction with Participation in Social Roles and PROMIS Ability to Participate in Social Roles and Activities scales. Averaged T scores less than 40 (1 standard deviation below population mean of 50) will be considered as indicators of impaired social participation. The PROMIS scales will be administered biweekly for the duration of 14 weeks of the follow-up.

  • Modified Hamilton Rating Scale for DepressionWeekly for 14 weeks

    Modified Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression interviews administered biweekly will assess depression symptoms for each week of the 14-week follow-up to assess presence of clinically significant depression (score of 14 or higher) and/or changes in depression severity.

  • Young Mania Rating ScaleWeekly for 14 weeks

    Young Mania Rating Scale interviews administered biweekly will assess manic/hypomanic symptoms for each week of the 14-week follow-up period to determine presence of clinically significant hypomania/mania (scores above 12) and changes in hypomania/mania symptom severity.

  • PROMIS Ability to Participate in Social Roles and ActivitiesBiweekly for 14 weeks

    PROMIS Ability to Participate in Social Roles and Activities is a self-report measure of difficulties with social participation. The raw scores range from 8 to 40 with higher scores indicating greater difficulties with social participation. The raw scores will be transformed into T scores and then average with T score for PROMIS Satisfaction with Participation in Social Roles for each week of the follow-up. These average scores of T score less than 40 will be considered as indicators of impaired social participation during this week.