Research & Evidence
Bipolar IN Order is grounded in clinical data, federal review, and two decades of real-world outcomes. Here is what we have and what we're building toward.
The Ghaemi Pilot Study
Dr. Nassir Ghaemi, Professor of Psychiatry at Tufts University School of Medicine, conducted a pilot study of the Bipolar IN Order program. 19 participants completed an 8-week program and were assessed using the validated WHO Quality of Life scale.
| Domain | Before | After | Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical Health | 56.6 | 66.4 | +9.8 points |
| Social Relationships | 50.8 | 55.9 | +5.1 points |
| Psychological Health | 57.0 | 59.4 | +2.4 points |
| Environment | 71.9 | 73.8 | +1.9 points |
Additional findings: 42% of participants reported being "currently ill" at baseline, compared to only 26% after the program. Awareness of state improved by 10 points. Comfort during episodes improved by 13.3 points. Functioning improved by 5 points.
"A symptomatic benefit comparable with established treatment modalities."
— Ghaemi et al.
The study attracted over 4,000 applicants for 19 spots, demonstrating significant unmet demand for this type of program.
PCORI Federal Grant Review
We submitted a $2 million research proposal to PCORI (Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute), a major federal research funder. The review was rigorous and the feedback was specific.
What reviewers said in our favor:
- "Innovative focus on patient-centered outcomes and functionality vs symptom reduction"
- "Pilot study shows improvement in 3 of 4 WHO-QOL assessments, demonstrating potential impact"
- "Addresses a critical gap in current clinical treatment"
- "Strong patient and stakeholder panel"
Why they declined:
The workshop format at the time was not standardized enough to be reproducible in a large-scale study. They were right. So we rebuilt the entire program as a digital platform where every interaction is logged, every outcome is measurable, and the methodology is fully reproducible. The current platform directly addresses every concern PCORI raised.
Academic Interest & Endorsements
Researchers and clinicians at leading institutions have expressed interest in collaborating on validation studies or have endorsed the Bipolar IN Order approach.
| Researcher | Institution | Expertise |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Nassir Ghaemi | Tufts University | Mood disorders, psychopharmacology |
| Prof. Jim van Os | Maastricht / Utrecht University (Netherlands) | Recovery-oriented psychiatry, dimensional models |
| Dr. Eduard Vieta | University of Barcelona (Spain) | Bipolar disorder research (one of the most cited in the field) |
| Dr. Sabine Bahn | University of Cambridge (UK) | Biomarkers, mood disorders |
| Dr. Hilary Blumberg | Yale School of Medicine | Mood Disorders Research Program Director |
| Dr. Stephen Hinshaw | UC Berkeley | Dept of Psychology, Chair |
In 2014, medical directors at Blue Cross Blue Shield provided letters of support for the program.
Tom Wootton's book Bipolar IN Order: Looking at Depression, Mania, Hallucination and Delusion From The Other Side laid the foundation for this approach and has been endorsed by leading researchers in the field.
What Makes This Approach Different
- Focuses on functioning within mood states — not just eliminating symptoms
- Uses structured check-ins and tools to track comfort, behavior, and introspection
- Teaches graduated steps for expanding comfort zones rather than overwhelming leaps
- Works alongside existing treatment, not instead of it
- Every interaction is logged and measurable — built for research reproducibility
Interested in Partnering?
If you are a researcher, clinician, or organization interested in evaluating the Bipolar IN Order model, we welcome the conversation.
Learn about our pilot partnership proposal or contact us to discuss collaboration opportunities.