Abstract
Objectives
In BD, impaired affective theory of mind (aToM) performance and aberrant neural activation
in the ToM brain network partly explain social functioning impairments. However, it
is not yet known whether psychotherapy of BD influences neuroimaging markers of aToM.
Methods
In the present study conducted within the multicentric randomized controlled trial
of the BipoLife consortium, euthymic BD patients underwent two group interventions
over 6 months (M = 28.45 weeks): a specific, cognitive-behavioral intervention (SEKT, n = 31) targeting impulse regulation, ToM, and social skills versus an emotion-focused
intervention (FEST, n = 28). To compare the effect of SEKT and FEST on neural correlates of aToM, patients
performed an aToM task during functional magnetic resonance imaging before and after
interventions (final fMRI sample of pre- and post-completers, SEKT: n = 16; FEST: n = 17). Healthy controls (n = 32) were scanned twice with the same time interval. Since ToM was trained in SEKT,
we expected an increased ToM network activation in SEKT relative to FEST post-intervention.
Results
Both treatments effectively stabilized patients’ euthymic state in terms of affective
symptoms, life satisfaction, and global functioning. Confirming our expectations,
SEKT patients showed increased neural activation within regions of the ToM network,
the bilateral temporoparietal junction (TPJ), the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC),
and the precuneus, whereas FEST patients did not.
Conclusions
The stabilizing effect of SEKT on clinical outcomes went along with increased neural
activation of the ToM network, while FEST possibly exerted its positive effect by
other, yet unexplored routes.
Keywords
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Article Info
Publication History
Accepted:
August 16,
2022
Received in revised form:
August 16,
2022
Received:
April 10,
2022
Publication stage
In Press Journal Pre-ProofFootnotes
Prof. Tilo Kircher reports having received funding for a symposium by the following sponsors: LivaNova Deutschland GmbH, Janssen-Cilag GmbH, Otsuka Pharma GmbH, Neuraxpharm Arzneimittel GmbH, Recordati Pharma GmbH, Aristo Pharma GmbH, Roche Pharma GmbH, Servier Deutschland GmbH. Prof. Christoph Mulert reports having received consultant fees by Boehringer-Ingelheim. The other authors disclose no biomedical financial interests or conflicts of interest.
Data Availability Statement
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 Published by Elsevier Inc on behalf of Society of Biological Psychiatry.
