Page 20 - MemoriaSAM-Eng

SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMMES

Bipolar Disorder

Programme Created in 2008, the CIBERSAM Bipolar Disorder Programme is essentially formed by
groups having expertise in translational research with a very high tendency of applying
Description
the results to clinical practice. The main objective of this programme is to enhance

knowledge about bipolar disorder causes and treatment.
The Programme is coordinated by the Assistant Director of CIBERSAM (Dr. Eduard

Vieta) and includes the coordinators of the Quality and Internal Evaluation Areas:

(Dr Ana Gonzalez-Pinto) and European Programmes (Dr. Jose Luis Ayuso), as well as
renowned Spanish investigators such as Dr. Bobes, Dr. McKenna and Dr. Tabarés. The

Bipolar Disorder Programme group is also part of the research programmes in Depres-

sion, Schizophrenia, Therapeutic Innovation and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. This
favors a large number of collaborations with various CIBERSAM groups and with other

CIBERs. The Bipolar Disorder Programme has a high rate of internationalization and
scientific productivity.

To date, the main lines of research developed by the Bipolar Disorder Programme in-

clude:

• Epidemiology: Studies for determining the prevalence, comorbidity and disabi-

lity associated with bipolar disorder.

• Early intervention: To study a large and representative sample of bipolar pa-
tients in early phases of the disease (first episode) and the genetic and environ-

mental factors.

• Databases: To create a comprehensive and collaborative database containing

epidemiological, clinical and biological information about bipolar disorder.

• Neuropsychology: To analyze the role of neurocognition as an endophenotype

and as a potentially treatable prognosis factor.
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• Psychometry: To validate psychometric instruments for use in bipolar disorder. 0
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• To identify new biomarkers, therapeutic targets and novel mechanisms of
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action for the treatment of bipolar disorder. O
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Clinical trials: To conduct clinical trials for determining the efficacy and tolera-
AL
bility of new treatments for bipolar disorder.
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• Psychotherapies: To study the efficacy of innovative psychosocial interventions A
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for improving the prognosis of the disease.
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• Neuroimaging: To analyze the changes in structural and functional neuroima- R
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ging associated with the disease, its physiopathology, symptoms, and neuropsy- CI
chological manifestations.
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