Home Research Opportunities & Announcements

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NAMI LINN COUNTY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF THE FOLLOWING OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES &/OR EXPERTISE ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH-RELATED ISSUES. 

PLEASE NOTE: NAMI Linn County does not specifically endorse these opportunities, takes no legal responsibility for them, & has no additional information available.  Please contact the specific study investigator/activity coordinator listed with each entry if you have questions or comments.

MEDIA INTERVIEW REQUESTS

Custody Relinquishment

A reporter with a major newspaper is working on a story about families who have had to relinquish custody of their children in order to access mental health care. She would like to speak with a family that is currently going through this process. If you would like to share you story, please send a short description (250 words or less) of your experiences to Christine Armstrong via christinea@nami.org. Please include your name and phone number. NAMI will not release any personal information without your explicit consent. The reporter will ultimately decide which stories may be the best fit for this article.

Insurance Barriers to Youth Mental Health Care

An author working on a book proposal about youth and mental illness would like to speak with the parent of a child/teen who has faced insurance hurdles when trying to access mental health services and supports for their child. If you would like to share you story, please send a short description (250 words or less) of your experiences to Christine Armstrong via christinea@nami.org. Please include your name and phone number. NAMI will not release any personal information without your explicit consent and ultimately the reporter will decide which stories may be the best fit for this article.

UNIVERSITY OF IOWA DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY RESEARCH STUDIES

Antipsychotics & Blood Vessel Function

This research could lead to a better understanding of some risks associated with antipsychotic medications. Participants will have close monitoring of their blood pressure, weight, cholesterol, triglycerides, blood sugars, and blood vessel function.

Inclusion Criteria: aged 18-50 years & recently started on Risperidone (Risperdal™), Olanzapine (Zyprexa™), or Quetiapine (Seroquel™) [If not on an antipsychotic may also be eligible for participation]

Exclusion Criteria: untreated thyroid disease, cancer, diabetes mellitus, pregnancy, treatment with anticoagulants, bleeding disorder, Reynaud's disease, current alcohol or drug abuse, started lipid-lowering medication, lithium, valproic acid, or divalproex in the past month

For More Information Contact:Lois Warren, Research Assistant (319-384-9379, Email: lois-warren@uiowa.edu)

Predicting Cardiovascular Risk with Antipsychotics

Inclusion Criteria: aged 18-50 years and taking Risperidone (Risperdal™), Olanzapine (Zyprexa™), Quetiapine (Seroquel™) for the past 1-2 years.

Exclusion Criteria: untreated thyroid disease, cancer, pregnancy, drug or alcohol abuse in the past year

For More Information Contact:Lois Warren, Research Assistant (319-384-9379, Email: lois-warren@uiowa.edu)

Brain Structure & Function in Relatives of People with Schizophrenia

The purpose of this study is to determine if there are differences in brain structure and function among relatives of people diagnosed with schizophrenia compared to people with no family history of schizophrenia. The study visit will last 5-6 hours and will involve cognitive testing (memory tests, visual tests, etc.), a MRI, neurological examination and blood draw. Compensation is available for participating in this study.

Inclusion Criteria: people between the ages of 13-25 with a 1st or 2nd degree (sibling, aunt, uncle, parent, grandparent) diagnosed with schizophrenia or related disorder

For More Information Contact:Lindsey Fuhrmeister (319-384-6884, Email: lindsey-fuhrmeister@uiowa.edu)

Long-term Side Effects of Risperidone in Adolescents

Adolescents who have been treated with Risperidone for at least one year are invited for a research project about the long-term side effects of Risperidone. Volunteers would be asked to answer a list of questions, undergo a general physical exam, and provide a blood sample. Total time requirement is around two hours, in a one-time session. Compensation is available. Restrictions apply.

• Volunteers should be 11 to 18 years old and currently on no other antipsychotic medications (like zyprexa, geodon, abilify, seroquel, or haldol). They could be taking other psychiatric medications however.
• They should not be using currently any illegal drugs or daily alcohol.
• They also cannot have any serious medical condition or a history of a serious brain injury.
• Females should not be pregnant and not taking birth control medications. Females should be willing to have a pregnancy test done.

Please talk to your doctor about contacting Dr. Calarge regarding this study. Otherwise, you could call Dr. Calarge at 319-356-1188 for more information.

Prediction of Late Onset Depression

Depression in older people constitutes a major public health problem that is often unrecognized and untreated. Elderly depression carries a great risk of death by suicide. The mechanisms that precipitate the clinical syndrome of late onset depression have not been successfully identified. These mechanisms must be delineated before truly effective preventive and treatment strategies may be developed. We will be looking for people who have suffered from two types of depression; early onset and late onset. We will also be looking for healthy individuals to participate as control subjects. If you agree to take part in the study, you will make two or three visits to the University of Iowa Hospital where you will be screened by a trained research assistant. Following this initial screening, you will undergo psychiatric and neuropsychological testing and then receive a Functional Neuroimaging scan. This scan will be used to measure functional activity in your brain while you perform some simple tasks. You will participate in either a brain scan called a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan or another kind of brain scan called a functional Magnetic Resonance (fMR) scan. You will have one kind of scan or the other, not both. Compensation is available for participating in this study.

We would like to talk with you if you:

• have suffered from early onset depression
  (first symptoms began before the age of 35)
• have suffered from late onset depression (first symptoms began after the age of 50)
• have never suffered from depression

To participate in the Prediction of Late Onset Depression study, candidates should:

• be between 50 and 90 years of age
• have no history of head injury
• have no history of seizures, muscle disease, stroke, neurodegenerative disorder
• have no metal objects implanted in or near the head (most dental work is OK)
• not have a pacemaker
• other, more detailed screening questions will also be asked if you are interested in participating in the study

For More Information Contact: Erika Holm, Research Assistant (319-353-8514, Email: erika-holm@uiowa)

Relapse Prevention: Long-Acting Atypical Antipsychotics (PROACTIVE)

If you or someone you know has a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, you may qualify to participate in this study if you are:

• Between the ages of 18-65
• Experiencing troublesome symptoms of your illness within the last 12 months
• Willing to visit the study doctor or a member of the research team every two weeks for up to 2-1/2 years

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of long-acting injectable risperidone compared to oral antipsychotic medication. You will have a 50/50 chance of receiving long-acting injectable risperidone. There are no charges for any of the study procedures or for the study medications. Compensation is available. Participation is voluntary.

For More Information Contact: Jane Kerr (319-353-4955) or Tim Holman (319-335-6769)

Schizophrenia Research Study Clinical Management of Metabolic Problems in Patients with Schizophrenia (CAMP)

You may qualify to participate in this study if you:

• Have a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder
• Are between the ages of 18-65
• Are currently taking one of the following antipsychotic medications: olanzapine, quetiapine, or risperidone
• Have experienced difficulty with weight management
• Have high cholesterol
• Would like to learn more about participating in a diet and exercise program

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the antipsychotic medications used to treat schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. We will look at weight management strategies and possible health problems such as heart disease and diabetes. You will have a 50/50 chance of switching to the study medication, aripiprazole (Abilify), or staying on your current medication. Compensation is available. Participation is voluntary.

For More Information Contact: Jane Kerr (319-353-4955) or Tim Holman (319-335-6769)

UNIVERSITY OF IOWA DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY RESEARCH STUDIES

Personality, Mood, & Anxiety Symptoms

To participate you must be:

• currently receiving mental health or substance abuse treatment
• age 18 or older
• fluent in English
• not diagnosed with dementia, delirium, mental retardation, or acute psychosis
  

Participation involves the completion of a questionnaire and interview in our lab (approximately 2 hours total). Compensation is provided, and all information will be kept confidential.

For More Information Contact:319-335-2036 or mood-personality@uiowa.edu

Sleep & Psychological Symptoms

To participate you must be:

• currently receiving mental health or substance abuse treatment
• age 18 or older

Participation involves the completion of a questionnaire and interview in our lab (approximatelhy 2 hours total).  Compensation is provided.

For More Information Contact:319-335-2086, toll free (866) 227-9875, or sleep-mood@uiowa.edu

UNIVERSITY OF IOWA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION RESEARCH STUDIES

Parent-Adolescent Communication Research Study

This research study examines hurtful or upsetting communication between parents and adolescent children. Participants must be a parent and adolescent (ages 13-17) who reside in the same household and are both able to come to the University of Iowa campus in Iowa City, Iowa together to take part in the study.

Research study participants will schedule an appointment to come to the University of Iowa campus to complete questionnaires and engage in a videotaped conversation with their family member, requiring a total of about 1-1.5 hours. The parent and adolescent will each be paid for their time and effort.

For More Information Contact: Dr. Rachel McLaren (319-384-3382 or rachel-mclaren@uiowa.edu)

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