Rhythms and Rewards in Bipolar Disorder

Link to Study Website

LOCATION

Fully online or hybrid. Hybrid versions are located in Berkeley, California, Melbourne, Australia, and London, England

DURATION OF RECRUITMENT

Recruiting until early 2028

TYPES OF BIPOLAR DISORDER INCLUDED

Bipolar I

Bipolar II

IRB APPROVAL

This study has been IRB-approved

THE SCIENTIFIC QUESTIONS BEING STUDIED

1. Determine the specific neural loci underlying normative, late-active phase
disengagement of DA-mediated reward sensitivity in a mouse model of BD.

2. To examine reward-related neural activation in BD during the most critical
diurnal period, early evening, during reward task engagement.

3. To characterize real-world diurnal behavior in reward processes that we
hypothesize fail to dampen as evening approaches in those with BD.

WHO CAN TAKE PART IN THE STUDY?

Those with OR without Bipolar disorder, and between 18-45 years old.

WHAT DOES THIS STUDY REQUIRE OF PARTICIPANTS?

Participants will complete an online screening survey and interview that
will take up to 75 minutes to complete.

If enrolled, participants will complete a short (<5 minutes) mood survey, a baseline survey (up to 11 minutes) about psychological experiences, sleep, daily activities, and how they tend to respond to good things in their life.

Eligible participants will also complete a Check-In Interview (up to 60 minutes) covering what’s been going well for them, their mood, and their sleep quality. This will also include an introduction to the app they will be using for 2 weeks during their participation in the study.

Local eligible participants can also participate in an MRI visit. While in the MRI, we will ask them to play two games/tasks. Beyond the time inside the tube, we will ask you to complete several other things at that session, including surveys and complete a screening sheet to ensure it is safe for them to be in the scanner.

During the two weeks of the study, Bipolar participants will be asked to complete additional mood surveys at week 1, week 2, and 4 weeks after completing the time with the app.

Eligible participants will complete up to 9.7 hours in the study.

WILL PARTICIPANTS BE COMPENSATED?

Participants will be compensated using an online system, at a rate of $25/hour.

This study is being conducted by the following researchers:

Lance J. Kriegsfeld, Ph.D., Professor at the University of California
Berkeley

Linda Wilbrecht, Ph.D., Professor at the University of California Berkeley

Greg Murray, Ph.D., Professor in Psychological Sciences at Swinburne
University

Liam Mason, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology at University
College London

Robin Nusslock, Ph.D., Professor at Northwestern University, and

June Gruber, Ph.D., Professor at the University of Colorado, Boulder

For more information, email rhythms-rewards@berkeley.edu.

Study-Related Materials

Study Website