Johns Hopkins Medicine - Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Mood Disorders Program Researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine are actively recruiting individuals for our work to identify the risk factors involved in the development of Bipolar Disorder. This project is a multi-centered collaborative effort sponsored by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and also a part of the NIMH Genetics Initiative. It is known that Bipolar Disorder runs in families, however the specific genes have not yet been found, nor do we understand all of the risk factors involved in the development of this illness. However, with your help we get closer to identifying these factors! The focus of this study is on adolescents who have a parent and/or sibling with Bipolar Disorder. Investigators plan to monitor participating adolescents for 5 years after the initial research evaluation. This will be achieved through interviews and questionnaires performed at various time intervals. During the first visit, we will also take a very small blood sample for future genetic studies. Qualifying families will include an adolescent (individuals age 12 through 21) and a parent and/or sibling diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. We are also looking for healthy comparison parents with no history of bipolar disorder or schizophrenia in any immediate family members. Both the adolescent and their parent/sibling should be willing to complete the interview, blood draw and questionnaire portions of the research. Parents’ interviews and questionnaires will involve information about themselves and their child. We are offering compensation for your time.
For further questions, please feel free to call 410-502-4330 or email llorenz4@jhmi.edu. It is only through the help of our volunteers that we are able to increase our knowledge, and make significant progress for a brighter future for families who suffer with this illness!
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