Table 1 Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, and baseline outcome measures and the breathing focus task at baseline

Demographic characteristics

 Age, Med (P25-P75)

48.5 (37.5–54.0)¹

52.0 (43.5–54.0)

45.0 (31.0–51.5)

U = 81.5,

z =− 1.29

0.20^c

 Gender, Female (%)

66.7¹

60

66.7

χ²(1) = 0.14

1.00^a

Education

0.84^b

 Low (%)

12.5

6.7

6.7

 Medium (%)

29.2

26.7

40

 High (%)

58.3

66.7

53.3

 Married/living together (%)

54.2¹

46.7

73.3

χ²(1) = 2.22

0.14^b

 Employed

41.7¹

53.3

26.7

χ²(1) = 2.22

0.14^a

Clinical characteristics

 Bipolar type I (%)

61.2

60

66.7

χ²(1) = 0.14

1.00^a

 Age first episode, Med (P25-P75)

20.0 (17.0–23.0)

23.0 (19.5–27.0)

18.0 (17.5–22.0)

U = 68.0,

z =− 1.86

0.067^c

 Number of episodes, Med (P25-P75)

13.0 (7.0–40.0)

12.0 (6.5–47.50)

10.0 (8.5–18.5)

U = 108,

z =− 0.19

0.87^c

Outcome measures

 Depressive symptoms

(IDS-C), Med (P25-P75)

12.0 (5.0–24.0)

13.0 (6.5–28.5)

12.0 (5.0–24.0)

U = 102,

z =− 0.44

0.68^c

 Manic symptoms

(YMRS), Med (P25-P75)

1.0 (0.0 – 3.0)

1.0 (0.0–4.0)

1.0 (0.0–2.0)

U = 101,

z =− 0.52

0.62^c

 Depressive rumination (RRS_br), Mean (SD)

11.5 (3.5)⁴

11.8 (3.8)¹

11.1 (3.6)

t(27) =− 0.52

0.61^d

 Emotion-focused positive rumination (RPA_ER),

Mean (SD)

13.1 (2.8)⁴

14.7 (2.3)¹

12.5 (2.3)

t(27) =− 2.59

0.015^d

 Self-focused positive rumination (RPA_SR),

Mean (SD)

8.8 (2.8)⁴

10.5 (2.1)¹

8.2 (2.5)

t(27) =− 2.66

0.013^d

 Breathing focus task

Med (P25-P75)

Med (P25-P75)

Med (P25-P75)

 Total intrusive thoughts

5.0 (3.0–7.0)

3.0 (2.0–7.0)

5.0 (3.0–7.0)

U = 104,

z =− 0.38

0.71^c

 Negative intrusive thoughts

1.0 (0.0–2.0)

0.0 (0.0–2.5)

1.0 (0.0–1.0)

U = 107,

z =− 0.27

0.81^c

 Positive intrusive thoughts

1.0 (0.0–2.0)

1.0 (0.0–2.0)

1.0 (0.0–2.0)

U = 111,

z =− 0.064

0.97^c

 Neutral intrusive thoughts

2.0 (0.0–4.0)

1.0 (0.0 2.5)

2.0 (1.0–4.5)

U = 81.5,

z =− 1.32

0.20^c

 Percentage of time distracted by ruminating thoughts (VAS)

22.5 (6.0–42.0)²

16.0 (1.0–34.0)²

22.0 (13.5–36.5)

U = 79.5,

z =− 0.83

0.41^c

 Percentage of time distracted by positive thoughts (VAS)

36.0 (19.0–52.0)²

19.0 (2.0–45.0)²

36.0 (24.0–53.5)

U = 56.0,

z =− 1.92

0.058^c