Symptomatic, Functional, and Brain Connectivity Changes Before and After Family Focused Therapy Versus Standard Psychoeducation Among Youth at Familial Risk for Bipolar Disorder

Abstract

Compared to standard psychoeducation (EC), family focused therapy for high-risk youth (FFT-HR) is associated with stronger pre- to post-connectivity between the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC) and anterior default mode network (aDMN) in symptomatic youth at high risk (HR) for bipolar disorder (BD). How these changes relate to symptom change and global functioning is poorly understood. We investigated treatment-related changes in intrinsic connectivity, symptoms, and functioning following FFT-HR versus EC.