1,200th participant enrolled in the Prechter Longitudinal Study of Bipolar Disorder

On July 18, 2016, our research team enrolled the 1,200th participant in the Prechter Longitudinal Study of Bipolar Disorder.

The Longitudinal Study of Bipolar Disorder is our flagship study, whose goal it is to identify potential illness patterns in bipolar disorder. It is the largest long-term research study for this illness and has been ongoing for eleven years. The study is designed to gather detailed clinical and biological data for research on the course of bipolar disorder and its outcomes by following and monitoring participants over their lifetime. We track patterns of disease, responses, and outcomes to interventions, and keep participants engaged in both their ongoing care and research of the illness.

Bipolar disorder is known to run in families, but most genes involved have not yet been identified. Additionally, every individual's response to the illness, life circumstances, and treatment can vary widely. Studying many individuals over time will allow scientists to better understand how to treat and, eventually, prevent bipolar disorder. It is out of this comprehensive study that we recruit participants for multiple other research studies ranging from genes and stem cell models, nutrition, neurodegeneration, to mobile health and clinical outcomes. 

We would like to thank all research participants for their involvement with the longitudinal study. Many of our participants tell us that they feel a sense of satisfaction knowing that they have contributed to the understanding of bipolar disorder and to our search for more effective treatments of this debilitating disease. Without their involvement and dedication, this important research would not be possible.

For more information on the longitudinal study and to find out how you can become involved, please visit the study web page.

"What makes this program so unique is that it is 'longitudinal,' meaning it follows patients over time to learn how to predict the outcome of the illness, identify personalized treatments that prevent episodes, and provide the opportunity for health and success."