Psychoeducational Program Increases Telomerase Activity in Bipolar Disorder: A Gender-Based Randomized Controlled Trial

Aims: This randomized controlled trial evaluated the efficacy of a psychoeducational program in enhancing telomerase activity (TA) among patients with bipolar disorder (BD), with a specific focus on gender differences. Methods: A total of 62 participants were assigned to either the psychoeducation (PE) group or the control (CTR) group, with TA measured both before and after the intervention. Results: Results demonstrated a significant increase in TA in the PE group compared to the controls at the conclusion of the study. Notably, gender-specific analyses revealed that female participants showed significant increases in both TA and delta TA (ΔTA), with ΔTA PE = 0.586 ± 0.273 and ΔTA CTR = −0.251 ± 0.177. In contrast, male participants exhibited significant changes only in ΔTA, with ΔTA PE = 0.257 ± 0.138 and ΔTA CTR = −0.144 ± 0.1194. Conclusion: These findings suggest that psychoeducational interventions have differential gender-specific effects, underscoring the importance of personalized approaches in the treatment of BD.