Patients, family members and healthy controls needed to help solve the puzzles of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Bipolar-Schizophrenia Network on Intermediate Phenotypes (B-SNIP).

What is B-SNIP? B-SNIP is a research program funded in 2007 by the National Institute of Health to learn about risk for schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder and bipolar disorder and their associated biological and behavioral traits (called intermediate phenotypes). The goal of this research is to help us better understand the causes of these illnesses and so that better treatments may be developed.

Who is eligible? Individuals between 15 and 65 years of age, who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder or bipolar disorder, and at least one first-degree relative, i.e., a brother, sister, mother, father or child, also between 15 and 65 years of age, who may or may not have a psychiatric disorder, or have a history of mental health problems.

What is involved? Eligible individuals will be invited to the Center for Cognitive Medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Center to complete:
- clinical interviews to evaluate diagnosis and gather other personal background information;
- neuropsychological tests to examine thinking abilities
- electroencephalography (EEG) sensory gating tests to measure brain activity
- eye tracking tests to measure eye movements
- MRI to measure brain structures and function
- provide a blood sample for DNA (genetic) studies.

All procedures are noninvasive and monetary compensation is provided. There is no cost to participants.

How do I learn more? For more information contact: Jami Huynh, LCSW, B-SNIP Research Study Coordinator, Center for Cognitive Medicine, Suite 235, Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Center, 912 S Wood St, Chicago, IL 60612. Phone 312-355-5549. E-mail jhuynh@psych.uic.edu