Investigators from the Prechter Program have recently been spotlighted on the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation (BBRF) website. The research conducted by Drs. Sarah Sperry, Anastasia Yocum, and Melvin McInnis has been recognized as one of the top five influential studies of the year. Their work delved into how patterns of variability in mood symptom severity could serve as indicators of clinical outcomes. Drs. Sperry and Yocum led comprehensive analyses that explored the fluctuations in depression, mania, and anxiety severity, as reported bi-monthly by participants in the Prechter Program. They found that higher variability in these mood and anxiety levels, characterized by significant ups and downs, is predictive of greater challenges.
The team’s research received partial support from the BBRF. Dr. Sarah Sperry was recently honored with a Young Investigator Award in 2022, while Dr. Melvin McInnis received the same award in 1992 and an Established Investigator Award in 1998. Founded in 1987 as the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia & Depression (NARSAD), BBRF is a leading entity in funding mental health research. The foundation focuses on improving the understanding and treatment of various mental illnesses, including schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety. To date, BBRF has awarded over $430 million in research grants to scientists worldwide, fueling advancements in neuroscience, genetics, and clinical treatment approaches.
Receiving a BBRF Young Investigator Award has been a pivotal moment for many early-career researchers, marking the commencement of their scientific journey. These grants foster innovative research ideas and drive researchers to pursue their commitments to mental health studies. Award recipients join a global network of dedicated mental health investigators.
Reflecting on the accolade, Sperry remarked, “Receiving a Young Investigator Award from BBRF was an honor and catalyzed my ability to use the extensive data from the Prechter Longitudinal Study to improve our understanding and measurement of bipolar disorder.” McInnis shared, “The experience of receiving the Young Investigator Award from NARSAD was incredibly energizing and exciting. It signified recognition and a warm welcome into the research community.”