Part of what we’re here to do at CREST.BD is to help healthcare providers to help their patients access evidence-informed resources and treatments. This month, we’re excited to announce that the much anticipated ORBIT project has launched and we’re now inviting people from around the world who experience bipolar disorder to participate!

So if you’re a clinician working with people with bipolar disorder, what do you need to know about the ORBIT project?

Here’s Prof. Greg Murray’s rationale:

The ORBIT project is a randomized controlled trial comparing two brief, online self-management interventions aimed at improving quality of life for people who have experienced 10 or more episodes of bipolar disorder.

These self-management interventions are designed to augment the clinical care you are currently providing for your clients. Some of the key features of the two ORBIT interventions include:

• 5 weeks active phase, with email support by an online coach
• Designed to improve quality of life
• Videos, interactive exercises, charts, interactive forums
• Participants are paid for assessments
• Augments (does not replace) usual clinical care
• The website does not provide emergency assistance or clinical support –  management remains with the individual and their local treating team

The project is funded by Australia’s National Health and Medical Research Council, and emerges from an international collaboration of researchers, clinicians and consumers. ORBIT is based at Swinburne University in Australia, but involves collaborations with Australian National University, University of British Columbia, University of California, and University of Newcastle.

Inclusion and exclusion criteria include:

• Diagnosis of bipolar disorder
• Self-report of 10 or more lifetime episodes
• Ready access to the internet
• Under the care of a nominated medical practitioner
• Not in an episode, actively suicidal or showing psychotic symptoms at baseline
• Participants can be withdrawn from the study if their involvement might compromise care

Watch this video to learn more about ORBIT’s online self-management inventions:

To stay updated on all things ORBIT, follow us @CREST_BD, or LIKE us on Facebook: facebook.com/crestbd

For more information about the project please visit:

www.orbitonline.org

This is part 1 of a two-part blog series for:
“Are you a clinician working with people affected by bipolar disorder?”
Click here for part 2!