Below you will find a list of research studies related to bipolar disorder that you may be eligible to contribute to by participating. Each research opportunity is an example of the hope, support, and dedication to ensuring those with bipolar disorder lead a successful, full, and healthy life.
Please send any direct questions to the contact listed for each individual study. Your feedback is a valuable contribution to their work!
YALE Free Research Study on Talk Therapy
About this study:
If you are between the ages of 16 and 29 years old, have symptoms or a diagnosis of bipolar disorder or depression, you may be eligible to participate in a free and confidential research study on a talk therapy on improving mood symptoms and helping to reduce the risk of suicide. The study also looks at how the brain works with advanced MRI brain scanning techniques.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Diagnosis or symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder or Bipolar Disorder I, II or Otherwise Specified.
- Between the ages of 16-29 years
- Without current substance use disorder
- able to undergo MRI scan (i.e. metal in body, claustrophobic)
- Under clinical care, as this study is not meant to replace but be added onto to complement current treatment
Compensation:
Up to $540
Contact:
Bernadette Lecza, MS
Phone: (203) 737-2868
Email: [email protected]
or
Erin Carrubba, LPC
Phone: (203) 737-2507
Email: [email protected]
Recover Study
About this study:
One out of three people with bipolar depression have what is called ‘treatment resistant’ depression, or ‘difficult-to-treat’ depression. Even if several types of treatment haven’t worked for you – or have not worked well enough – there is still a chance that something else will.
The RECOVER Study is a research study that will provide new information about how helpful the VNS (Vagus Nerve Stimulation) Therapy® System is for bipolar patients with depressive episodes that have been difficult to treat.
Requirements:
- Be 18 years or older, diagnosed bipolar and currently be depressed
- Have bipolar depression that has lasted for at least two years or recurred several times
- Have tried at least four treatments and not found them helpful
To find out if you qualify or for more information, click here.
Self-Stigma Study
About this study:
Feeling bad about bipolar? This research study aims to evaluate a psychoeducational program designed to address self-stigma in people with bipolar disorder.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Have a diagnosis of bipolar disorder
- Are over 18 years old
- Have not experienced a mood episode for 8 weeks
- See your own treatment provider
- Can attend 8 weekly online group sessions
Learn more about the study and qualify, here.
Contact:
Nan Zhao
Email: [email protected]
or
Dr. Andrea Vassilev
Email: [email protected]
The COMPARE Study
About this study:
For this study, 518 adults with unipolar or bipolar depression will be randomized into two groups. One will have eight sessions of behavioral activation therapy with a community therapist via video or telephone. The other group will participate in weekly, hour-long yoga classes that will be available online in real-time.
We also want to find out whether certain types of people will do better in one or the other treatment, depending on characteristics such as the severity of their depression, gender, age, or personal preference. This study is currently recruiting new participants.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Have symptoms of depression or sad mood
- Be able to read English or Spanish (Minnesota residents must read English)
- Live in Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, or Rhode Island
Learn more about the study and enroll, here.
Children's Bipolar Network Treatment Trial I
About this study:
This is a naturalistic treatment and follow-up study of youth with bipolar spectrum disorders (BSDs) across four US sites of The Childhood Bipolar Network (CBN). CBN sites have expertise in diagnosing, assessing, and treating BSDs in youth. The primary aims of this study are to (1) identify and reliably diagnose youth (ages 9 to 19 yrs) with full bipolar disorder (BD) and BSDs, and (2) examine predictors (e.g., mood instability, inflammatory marker C-reactive protein) of clinical outcome over a 12 month period.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Youth 9-19 years old
- Youth diagnosed with Bipolar disorder (I, II, Other Specified) or Cyclothymic Disorder by the study team during the diagnostic interview screening
- Youth is able to read and communicate in English to the degree necessary to be able to assent and participate (with help) in their treatment and assessments appropriate for ages 9 and up
- Youth has a caregiver able to participate in ongoing basis in assessment and treatment The participating caregiver can reliably read and communicate in English for purposes of study consenting, assessment, and treatment, unless preferred language translation services are regularly available.
Location:
UCLA Westwood
Contact:
David J Miklowitz, PhD
Phone: (310) 267-2659
Email: [email protected]
Clinical Evaluation of the Antidepressant Effect of the Use of Probiotics in Bipolar Disorder
About this study:
Bipolar Disorder (BD) is highly incapacitating and associated with premature mortality. Depressive symptoms and episodes are the most frequent cause of disability in subjects with BD and over half of patients do not respond adequately to approved treatments for this condition, showing the need for new classes of treatments to complement current pharmacotherapy. Previous studies demonstrated that the intestinal flora have potential positive or negative effects on the Central Nervous System and suggest that adding specific strains of bacteria to people's diet may have antidepressant properties.
The study proposes to evaluate the clinical benefit of adding probiotics to pharmacological treatments for bipolar depression. This will be a study with 84 subjects (42 receiving probiotics and 42 placebo). The research team in this department has focused especially on non-pharmacological treatments for bipolar disorder (psychotherapy, nutrition and exercise) and is multidisciplinary in scope with psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, physiotherapists and nutritionists participating in research projects.
Eligibility Criteria:
- BD type I or type II, according to the use of Mini Internacional Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI)
- Score on the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) < 8
- Score on the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) > 8
- Be receiving major guideline-approved treatments for bipolar depression for at least 4 weeks
Location:
University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
Contact:
Adiel Rios, MD
Email: [email protected]
YALE MRI Study of Bipolar Disorder for Ages 40-79
About this study:
If you are between the ages of 40 and 79 years old, have bipolar disorder, and reside in Connecticut, you may be eligible to participate in a free and confidential study with advanced MRI brain scanning techniques.
Requirements:
- Diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder.
- Between the ages of 40-79.
- Without major current medical or neurological condition or contraindication to MRI.
Compensation:
Up to $140
Contact:
Bernadette Lecza, MS
Phone: (203) 737-2868
Email: [email protected]
or
Erin Carrubba, LPC
Phone: (203) 737-2507
Email: [email protected]
Oral Contraceptives for Treating Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder in Bipolar Disorder
About this study:
This study is being done with the hope of finding a safe and effective treatment for individuals who experience both bipolar disorder and severe premenstrual symptoms. As part of this clinical trial, participants will receive either a combined oral contraceptive (i.e. oral birth control pills) as a treatment for severe premenstrual symptoms or a placebo (a pill without any active components - similar to a sugar pill). People that are enrolled in this study will either receive the treatment or the placebo for a period of 90 days. During this time, people that are participating in the study will fill out some questionnaires, and their mental and physical health will be monitored by the study physicians.
Eligibility Criteria:
- 16-45 years of age
- Diagnosis of BD (clinically euthymic) according to the DSM-5
- Diagnosis of PMDD according to the DSM-5
- Regular menstrual cycles
- No contraindication to use oral contraceptives
- Capable of consent for treatment
Location:
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Contact:
Benicio N Frey, MD, MSc, PhD
Email: [email protected]
YALE Free Research Talk Therapy for Adolescents at Risk for Bipolar Disorder
About this study:
Brain Emotion Regulation Circuitry Self-Monitoring and Regulation Therapy for Daily Rhythm Regularization (BE-SMART-DR) teaches healthy habits and skills aimed to stabilize daily rhythm, improve emotion regulation, and reduce symptoms of depression and hypomania/mania. Participants meet with their therapist in-person at Yale 2 times over the course of approximately twelve weeks and 10 sessions can be via video communication or telephone. At the in-person meetings, a set of clinical assessments and an MRI scan will be administered.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Mood symptoms.
- Between the ages of 13-21 years.
- Without current substance use disorder or contraindication to MRI.
Compensation:
Up to $240
Contact:
Bernadette Lecza, MS
Phone: (203) 737-2868
Email: [email protected]
or
Erin Carrubba, LPC
Phone: (203) 737-2507
Email: [email protected]
