We are currently recruiting people for the largest study on how food plans, in addition to medication, can help people with bipolar disorder.
This study looks at two different styles of eating: Mediterranean and Eating by the Clock (EBC). Neither one of these food plans is meant to be a weight-loss diet or a complete treatment for bipolar disorder. In this study, we want you to eat the same amount of food you usually do, and continue regular care for your bipolar disorder. We pay all participants in the study at a rate of $25USD/hour for their time completing assessments.
The goal of this study is to understand not only if these food plans help, but also the ways in which they can or can’t. To achieve our goal, we’re looking for people to share their experiences while trying one of our food plans. After you enroll in the study, we will randomly assign you to either EBC or the Mediterranean, like the flip of a coin. We will ask you a lot of different questions in this study, because we genuinely want to gain a deep understanding of each person’s unique experience.
We have two versions of the Healthy Lifestyles for Bipolar Disorder study: a local version, and also an international version. The international version is for people who live in the US, UK, Canada, India and Australia, and is completely virtual. All you need is to be fluent in English and have a phone or laptop to answer surveys. The local version of the has a few more in-person components, like completing blood work and wearing a continuous glucose monitor. The local version is open to anyone living in or around the Bay Area.
Eating by the Clock
EBC, also known as time-restricted eating, is eating all your food during a 10-hour window of the day. People who follow EBC tend to avoid eating in the first hour after they wake up, and in the few hours before they go to sleep. If you like, we can help you figure out the window that works best for you.
Because EBC improves sleep and circadian rhythms, we want to understand if it also helps improve symptoms of bipolar disorder.
The Mediterranean Diet
The Mediterranean Diet is one of the best studied ways to eat healthy. It’s based on the diet in the 16 countries surrounding the Mediterranean sea. In order to follow this diet, people try to eat more fruit, veggies, whole grains and legumes, and use olive oil in place of less healthy fats.
Since eating this way helps people with heart disease, diabetes, and other health conditions, we want to know if it can also help people with bipolar disorder.
We really hope that you want to work with us.
If you join our study, we’ll start by asking you to log your regular eating habits for 2 weeks. At the same time, we’ll also share some tips on goal-setting and how to get good sleep. After that, you’ll be randomly assigned to follow either one of the food plans. In addition to your food plan, you’ll receive a resource packet with instructions, sample meal plans, and tips to help you follow your food plan. For 8 weeks after that, we’ll have you follow your food plan, and continue logging your meals. During that time, we’ll continue to send you additional guidance on healthy eating and sleep.
Throughout the study, we also offer free optional coaching every week. Our coaches can help you figure out how to follow your food plan, and help support your progress and your wellbeing. At different time points in the study, we’ll also ask you to complete paid interviews and surveys, so that we can check how things are going. After 8 weeks, we won’t ask you to follow the food plan any more, and we’ll check-in with surveys and interviews less.
If you have questions about this study, you can email us at calmprogram@berkeley.edu. If this study sounds like something you’d be interested in, please fill out the following survey to see if you’re a good fit:
Note: This survey might take up to 45 minutes to complete. If you want to be emailed a link of this survey to complete at a later time, please enter your email here.
Feel free to also join our participant registry. If you join, you’ll be added to a list of people we email whenever we launch a new study.
Healthy Lifestyles for Bipolar Disorder Collaborators
Lance J Kriegsfeld, Ph.D. is a Professor at the University of California Berkeley
Keanan Joyner, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor at the University of California Berkeley
Greg Murray, Ph.D. is a Professor in Psychological Sciences at Swinburne University
Dr. Michael Berk, Ph.D., MBBCH, MMED, FF(Psych)SA, FRANCZP is a Professor of Psychiatry at the Deakin University School of Medicine
Dr. Satchin Panda, Ph.D., is part of the Regulatory Biology Department at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies
Emily Manoogian is a Staff Scientist at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies
Robert Villanueva is a National Trainer of Trainers for the National Alliance on Mental Illness
Dr. Erin Michalak, Ph.D. is part of the Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, and also founded CREST-BD
