Last updated at 15:01, Friday, 12 February 2010

PEOPLE with bipolar disorder are invited to try new group therapy sessions in Barrow.

The trial, which begins in April, is part of a £2m research project called PARADES looking into different treatments for the condition.

Sian Newman is research assistant for the scheme.

She told Around Risedale: “Bipolar is an affective disorder. It used to be called manic depression and a lot of people still know it as that.

“It’s characterised by periods of extreme lows called depression and extreme highs known as mania.

“About one per cent of the population are affected. A lot of people may have bipolar but haven’t been diagnosed and it takes, on average, about eight years to receive a diagnosis.

“The group therapy sessions are part of a larger study. We have groups already in Manchester and Nottingham and we’ve been looking at this area working with NHS Cumbria.

“We felt Barrow was a reasonably big population and we thought there would be a larger number of people here who may have bipolar.”

Sian hopes that the therapies will make life more bearable for people with the disorder.

She said: “A big study has been done in Barcelona which has shown that group therapy can have benefits in terms of less time spent in hospital and less frequent episodes.

“People taking part in the sessions in Manchester have said that just being with a group of people that have similar experiences has really helped them because it normalises things.

“Having bipolar can be very isolating, especially if you’re newly diagnosed and you’re not really sure what’s happening – it can be a real help to speak to people who’ve been through it.

“Each session will have two therapists present as well as what we call a service user facilitator.

“That’s someone who has bipolar and has taken on the role of expert-patient. They will be the link between the people in the room and the therapists.”

One person who took part in group therapy in Manchester said: “I'm finding this helpful and reassuring, I do not feel as alienated.”

Another added: “Group therapy is amazing. You get to meet normal people with normal lives who have bipolar disorder.”

There are still places available for the sessions.

Sian said: “People can self-refer or can be referred to us by mental health services or GPs – we’ve also been in to speak to the staff at Mind in Barrow, who have been fantastic.

“We’re taking anyone from anywhere and they don’t have to have an official diagnosis – if people suspect they have bipolar but have not been properly diagnosed, we’re more than happy to take them on.

“We’ll also cover travel expenses – we’d rather people came than didn’t because they can’t afford the bus or whatever so if they speak to me about that when they contact me I can make the arrangements.”

The sessions are being held at Four Groves Community Centre on Suffolk Street and at Furness General Hospital.

Contact Sian on 01524 594829 or email sian.newman@cumbria.nhs.uk for more information.

First published at 10:27, Saturday, 30 January 2010
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk