Dietary Intervention for Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a chronic, often disabling illness, and many individuals remain symptomatic despite pharmacotherapy. Significant mood variability often persists throughout the lifespan and predicts relapse, leading to functional impairment. Metabolism of dietary essential polyunsaturated fatty acids has been shown to be upstream of the neuroinflammatory processes that may lead to neurotoxicity and chronicity of illness in BD. The investigators hypothesize that an intervention diet designed to alter intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids that augments mood stabilizing medications will reduce inflammation; and that the reduction of inflammation will reduce mood variability in bipolar disorder. After a two-the investigatorsek baseline-monitoring period, the investigators will randomize individuals with BD to an intervention or a control diet. Mood will be measured daily using a smartphone. Phase 2 will consist of 12 the investigatorseks of a less intense intervention. Follow-up will then be completed at 6, 9, and 12 months post-baseline to assess for recurrence of mood episodes. By maintaining a certain diet in addition to taking mood-stabilizing medication, researchers hope to see whether specific dietary plans have any bearing on mood variability.