Bipolar Disorder Education Program for Youth (Vancouver, BC)

Do you live with bipolar disorder and have a sibling or a child (15-24 years old) who would like to learn more about bipolar disorder? You are invited to join a new educational program for individuals at high risk for bipolar disorder (including those with a first-degree relative with bipolar disorder).

This educational program and study is being conducted by Dr. Kamyar Keramatian, a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and a psychiatrist at the UBC Mood Disorders Centre.

Can I participate?

You may be eligible for the study if you:

Live in the Greater Vancouver Area
Are between 15 and 24 years old
Have a family history of bipolar disorder (familial risk) or are already having challenges with problematic mood changes (clinical risk)

What does the study involve?

Participants will have three individual appointments (in-person at UBC or virtually) and complete 8 weekly group sessions lasting 60 minutes each that are provided through videoconferencing. Following completion of the psychoeducational program, participants will be invited to participate in a group interview by a research team member to elicit their experiences and suggestions for improving the program. An additional set of group interviews will be conducted with family members to explore their perceptions concerning the impact of the program on you as well as suggestions for improvement.

The total time commitment required for the study will be approximately 12-14 hours for the entire study.

Why are we doing this study?

The main goals of this study are to assess the feasibility and acceptability of this program and to use data gathered from this study to optimize the program.

Sign up!

To sign up or for more information about the study, please connect with study coordinator Nazlin Walji at (604) 822-7294/ nazlin.walji@ubc.ca