Research

Contact Us

NAMI Minnesota
800 Transfer Road, #31
Saint Paul, MN 55114

phone: 651-645-2948
toll free: 1-888-NAMI-HELPS
fax: 651-645-7379

email: namihelps@namimn.org

Site Designed By: mod&co
Site Developed By: Plaudit
Unsubscribe

NIMH Links

NIMH Homepage    NIMH Outreach Program

NIMH Clinical Trials     NIH Clinical Trials

Research on Mental Illness

NAMI Minnesota and the University of Minnesota held the 11th annual Research Dinner on Feb. 26, 2013. About 160 people attend the event to hear about some of the latest research on Autism, Eating Disorders, Cognitive Behavior in Teens, and Tracking the Course of Schizophrenia.

Mapping Brain Circuits Provides Research Clues to Schizophrenia 2-26-13, here.

Imaging Biomarker Predicts Effectiveness of New Rapid Antidepressant 2-5-13, here.

Brain Imaging Predicts Psychotherapy Outcomes in Social Anxiety Treatment 2-1-13, here.

NIMH - A Participant's Guide to Clinical Research, here.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Fact Sheet

Clinical Trial Participation Update Find Clinical Trials by State, here.

Experimental Drug Briefly Eases Depression in Tests, 12-11-12, here.

Suicide Screening Tool Predicts At Risk Youth, 1-4-13, here.

NIMH Updates

NIMH Update 5-1-13    NIMH Update 4-15-13

NIMH Update 1-15-12    NIMH Update 2-1-12

NIMH Update 2-15-12    NIMH Update 3-1-12

NIMH Update 3-15-12    NIMH Update 4-15-12

NIMH Update 5-1-12    NIMH Update 6-1-12

NIMH Update 8-1-12    NIMH Update 12-1-12

NIMH Update 12-15-12

NAMI Minnesota is a member of the NIMH Partnership Program

The Outreach Partnership Program is a nationwide initiative of the National Institute of Mental Health’s (NIMH) Office of Constituency Relations and Public Liaison (OCRPL). The Program works to increase the public’s access to science-based mental health information through partnerships with national and state nonprofit organizations.

The Program has a particular emphasis on reaching historically underserved populations. The Program also strives to enhance opportunities for the public to benefit from participation in research. These partnerships provide NIMH with the opportunity to engage community organizations in dialogue to better understand the needs, questions, and concerns of those intended to benefit from the research the Institute supports.

Objectives
The Outreach Partnership Program is vital to NIMH’s efforts to deliver science-based information to communities across the country. Specifically, the Program is designed to:
• Foster more widespread understanding about mental disorders, the brain, and behavior, thereby helping to reduce misperceptions and negative attitudes towards mental illness;
• Increase awareness of the role of basic, translational, and clinical research in the understanding, prevention, and treatment of mental illnesses; and
• Increase awareness about the opportunities to benefit from participation in mental health research.

Outreach Partners
There are 55 Outreach Partner organizations representing all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Outreach Partners disseminate NIMH research findings and educational materials to the public throughout their states and local communities, including families and individuals affected by mental illness, healthcare professionals, underserved populations, and other constituencies such as schools, social service agencies, and faith-based organizations. Outreach Partners also conduct targeted outreach activities to address mental disorders among children and adolescents and other populations identified to be at-risk, and mental health disparities that occur because of race, ethnicity, age (e.g., older adults), education, income, disability status, geographic location, or risk status related to sex and gender. In addition, Outreach Partners promote volunteer participation in NIMH and NIH clinical trials and often collaborate with researchers to advance the research process. Learn more about what Outreach Partners are doing to address mental health disparities and increase awareness about mental disorders during childhood and adolescence.

Outreach Partners are selected through a competitive process and serve three-year terms. Benefits provided to these organizations include an annual stipend, sponsored participation in an annual meeting, the biweekly electronic Update newsletter featuring the latest Federal news and resources related to mental health, and access to NIMH scientific and educational publications for mass dissemination. Partners are able to network among themselves and with Federal, national, and state organizations through the annual meetings and a dedicated electronic mailing list.

See list of Outreach Partners…

The NIMH Genetic Study of Schizophrenia

If you or someone in your family is 18 years old or older and has been diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (depressed type), you may be able to participate in a genetic study that looks for genes in families. In order for family members to participate, the person with schizophrenia must be willing and able to participate. Eligible family members participate in an interview and contribute a sample of blood for genetic analysis. If you have schizophrenia, and if possible, your sibling, you may qualify to participate in this study. There is no change in medication involved. The study involves simple cognitive tests and some MRI scans (no radiation). All testing is completed free of charge and there is compensation for each family member's participation in the study. Travel and lodging assistance is also available. Scientists believe that the identification of susceptibility genes is key to understanding the molecular pathways of this disease so that better treatments and preventive methods can be developed in the future. To find out if you qualify or for more information, call 301-435-8970 (1-888-674-6464) or email to schizophrenia@mail.nih.gov.

National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services.

For more information on research conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, MD, click here.

Top 10 Advances in Research at NIMH in 2011- Stone Hearth News, 12-23-11

Nationwide Recruitment: Bipolar Disorder Adult Research Study
Bipolar Disorder Genetics: A Collaborative Study

Individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder may be eligible to participate in a research study at the NIH Clinical Center. The purpose of this study is to identify genes that may contribute to the development of bipolar disorder (manic depression), and related conditions. Bipolar disorder is a common and potentially life-threatening mood disorder. The tendency to develop bipolar disorder can be inherited, but this is poorly understood and probably involves multiple genes. This study will use genetic markers to map and identify genes that contribute to bipolar disorder.

Families and individuals who have the disorder are asked to contribute personal information and a blood sample to an anonymous national database. This information will aid scientists around the world who are working together to develop better treatments for this serious mood disorder.

To find out more information, please call 1-866-644-4363 or email kazubad@mail.nih.gov. National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services. For more information on research conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, MD click here.

University of Illinois Study of Depression in Romantic Relationships
Have you or your romantic partner been professionally diagnosed with depression? Romantic couples are needed for a study about how people communicate when one or both partners have been diagnosed with depression by a medical professional. Find the guidelines to participate, here.

University of Minnesota Bipolar Disorder Biobank Study
The University of Minnesota is seeking participants with Bipolar I Disorder for a biobank research study. Compensation will be provided for completion of the study. Individuals ages 18-80 who are interested in learning more about this research opportunity and determining eligibility should email: BipolarBiobank@umn.edu or call: (612) 627-4497 (all calls are confidential).

Study on Depression in Pregnant Women
The University of Minnesota is seeking women who are currently pregnant or less than 6 weeks postpartum to participate in a research study examining the effect of exercise and wellness on mood following childbirth. More here.

VA Medical Center Study for Families and Consumers
The VA Medical Center is seeking study participants for a "Thinking Brain Study." The study seeks families in which at least one person has schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder or another mental illness with psychotic symptoms. Both families and consumers are being sought for the study. Each participant will be paid between $150 and $225 depending upon the number of sessions completed. Call 612-624-3892.

Binge Eating Medication Study
The University of Minnesota Eating Disorders Research Program is looking for adult men and women who regularly binge eat (i.e., eat large amounts of food in a short period of time and feel a loss of control) to serve as participants for a study testing a new medication for binge eating disorder. Interested individuals will go through a screening process to determine eligibility. Those eligible will be randomly selected to receive the study medication or placebo pill (an inactive pill) and take the medication daily for 6 weeks. In addition, participants will attend several monitoring visits which last about 1 hour each. Finally, participants will complete one follow-up visit which would occur 2 months after starting the medication. Participants are paid $40 for each study visit they complete. If you are overweight/obese and not taking any mood-altering medications
(e.g., antidepressants), please contact us for more information: 612-627-1991 or anpalm@umn.edu.

Therapy Study for Bulimic Symptoms
Do you struggle with binge eating and purging? Is your sense of self-esteem strongly influenced by your body shape and/or weight? The Eating Disorders Research Program is testing a new type of therapy for the treatment of bulimic symptoms. Individuals ages 18-65 who are interested in learning more about this University of Minnesota research opportunity and determining eligibility should email: anpalm@umn.edu or call 612-627-1991 (all calls confidential).

Research on Drug for Help Quitting Smoking
The University of Minnesota, Ambulatory Research Center is seeking smokers who smoke more than 10 cigarettes/day, with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, in good health for a research study evaluating varenicline (Chantix). The Ambulatory Research Center is located at Riverside Professional Bldg., 606 24th Ave. South, and provides a safe, confidential atmosphere for help quitting smoking. Call 612-627-4840.

Deep Brain Stimulation Pilot Study on Depression - Press release issued on pilot depression study, here.

The U of Minnesota's COAT Study seeks to help understand and treat the side effects of antipsychotic medications.

Mayo Clinic has started a Bipolar Disorder Biobank to make it easier for researchers to conduct research studies because they will have access to blood samples and patient data from thousands of people all in one place. Eligibility for the study: Age 18-65 and diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder Type 1. Call 507-255-9034 or e-mail bipolarbiobank@mayo.edu.

Do you have schizophrenia? You may be able to help advance understanding of schizophrenia
Individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder between 18 and 65 are invited to participate in a research study of thoughts and behavior in people with schizophrenia. The study is conducted by Dr. Angus MacDonald in the University of MN Dept. of Psychology. It calls for participants to make 3 visits (each lasting 1.5 to 3 hours), complete confidential drug and alcohol testing, provide a saliva sample, answer questions of a personal nature and complete button-pressing tasks. Compensation is $20/hour. All information is kept confidential. Contact TRiCAM Lab at the University of MN: Call Edward at 612-624-3892 and complete our confidential on-line survey: https://survey.cla.umn.edu/tricam.  More information, here.

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Studies
NIMH Schizophrenia research study
NIMH Sibling research study

Guide to Evidence-Based Programs
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has developed a a new web page guide for identifying evidence-based programs and practices that can prevent and/or treat mental and substance use disorders.  This Guide to Evidence-Based Practices can be found at their website.

Schizophrenia Treatment Studies: The University of Minnesota Schizophrenia Program is seeking adults with schizophrenia or schizoaffecitive disorder for several clinical medication trails. Studies include FDA-approved medication and investigational drugs for patients who are acutely ill, partially responding to current treatment, mildly ill, or having prominent negative symptoms.  Psychiatric and medical care, medication, and travel expenses paid.  For more information, e-mail schizophrenia@umn.edu or call 612-627-4840. For a brochure on the Schizophrenia Program, click here.  Another new study is the Comparison of Antipsychotics for Metabolic Problems, also called the CAMP study.

U of M's Dept. of Psychiatry Study Participants Wanted - More information here.

Regions Hospital Seeks Study Participants - Regions Hospital in St. Paul is seeking participants for several clinical studies. Current studies include: Major Depression, Treatment-Resistant Depression, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Bipolar I Disorder and Adult ADHD.  For information, call 651-254-4357.

Research Paper on Family Experiences -Qualitative Health Research has published a paper by Barbara Champlin of St. Catherine University in St. Paul, following her interviews with a number of area NAMI members.  The paper is titled "Being There for Another with a Serious Mental Illness."

NIMH Releases Study on Treating Depression.  To read a press release on the report, click here.

University of Iowa's Bipolar Genetic Studies brochure.