The effects of mindfulness-based psycoeducation program on the perceived stress levels and emotion regulation strategies of patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder

Objectives: In recent years, mindfulness-based practices in psychiatric patients have become a new trend. It is applied to many mental disorders and is stated to have various benefits. There is not enough research yet on how mindfulness-based practices effect patients with diagnosed bipolar disorder. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of mindfulness-based psychoeducation program on emotion regulation strategies and perceived stress levels of patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Methods: The study, which was carried out as a pre-test and post-test quasi-experimental research design with a control group, was carried out with a total of 71 patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder, 35 of whom were assigned to the experimental group, and 36 of them were assigned to the control group. Data of the study was collected with the Personal Information Form, Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). The mindfulness-based psychoeducation program was implemented in the form of group training, 2 sessions per week, for a total of 6 sessions. Results: Compared to the control group, it was determined that the MAAS and ERQ-Reappraisal total mean scores of the experimental group increased significantly, and the PSS and ERQ-Suppression total mean scores decreased significantly (p p < 0.01). Conclusions: Mindfulness-Based psycoeducation program improved mindfulness, emotion regulation and level of perceived stress of patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder.