Grant: Planning and Dissemination Grant - Institute Community Support

Bipolar disorder is characterized by depressive episodes, manic episodes, and inter-episode phases during which relapse of mood episodes can be prevented. Given its complex course, the treatment of BD poses specific safety and efficacy challenges, accounting for the need to avoid switching from depressive episodes to manic episodes, treat acute mood episodes, and prevent relapse. A large number of trials have been published in the field of BD, that have been pooled in a large number of meta-analyses (MA) and network meta-analyses (NMA). The body of evidence is so large to be a barrier against producing guidelines that are based on an updated systematic review of the literature. Umbrella reviews partially contribute to overcoming such barriers, systematically pooling MA/NMAs, and distilling the most robust evidence in one single report. However, scientific publications are not typically read by clinicians or persons with lived experience and have limited knowledge translation capacity. This project entitled "Living umbrella review platform for bipolar disorder treatment" aims to translate the results of a large umbrella review on any treatment for bipolar disorder, co-designing an online platform with specialists, primary care providers, persons with lived experience, and other stakeholders, so that all parties have access to updated and easily accessible information that can inform decision-making. The platform will be fully browsable, providing different formats of the same information, from freely downloadable raw data for researchers, to lay and clear visualization of findings for clinicians or persons with lived experience of bipolar disorder. The platform will have the potential to ultimately become the go-to platform for future evidence-based Canadian and international guidelines for the mangement of bipolar disorder.