The bIpolar disorder aNd oThEr RelAted CondiTions (INTERACT) Research Registry is a database of everyday people who wish to participate in research focusing on bipolar disorder and related mental health conditions like depression, anxiety or schizophrenia spectrum disorders. You do not have to have these conditions to be on the Registry, just an interest in research.
Joining this Registry simply means that you give permission for authorised researchers to contact you about potential research projects that you may be interested in participating in. By establishing a Registry of individuals who are interested in research on bipolar disorder and other related mental health conditions, researchers can spend less time findings participants and more time conducting larger, higher quality studies.
The Registry is specifically designed for participants that meet the following criteria:
- Have a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, or a schizophrenia spectrum disorder (e.g. schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder or other psychotic disorder).
- Are a first or second degree relative of someone with a diagnosis of any of these mental health conditions
- Have not been diagnosed with a mental health condition but are interesting in participating in research as a comparison subject.
The Registry collects a range of demographic information to assist researchers to find participants who are relevant and eligible for particular studies. Information such as age, sex, geographic location, country of birth, ethnicity, handedness, level of education, family history of mental illness, history of head injuries, and diagnostic information is collected.
When registering, you will be asked to specify what types of research (e.g. neuroimaging, blood collection, clinical interviews, etc.) you may or may not be interested in. This will ensure that you are not contacted about research that is not relevant to you. To join the Registry, you will need to complete an information form from which all fields must be completed.
After joining the Registry, authorised researchers may contact you in relation to studies about bipolar disorder and/or related mental health conditions. If you are contacted, you will be provided with all the necessary information to make an informed decision about whether or not you would be interested in taking part in that study at that time. You are under no obligation to participate in any study if you did not wish to.
After joining the Registry, authorised researchers may contact you in relation to studies about bipolar disorder and/or related mental health conditions. If you are contacted, you will be provided with all the necessary information to make an informed decision about whether or not you would be interested in taking part in that study at that time. You are under no obligation to participate in any study if you did not wish to.
Any research projects you are contacted about will first have been approved by an independent ethics committee and only authorised researchers will have access to your details contained in the Registry. All researchers with access to the Registry will have applied for and been granted permission prior to contacting you.
The potential risks associated with participation in the Registry are minimal. To ensure you are not overburdened, a four week ‘washout’ period is enforced upon your completion of a study. This means that researchers who use the Registry must wait at least eight weeks before recontacting you about further research.
No information you provide to the Registry will be used for future analyses or publications, nor will any identifying information be made public. The information will be stored securely and indefinitely in an electronic database, unless you no longer wish to be a part of the Registry.
You can review your information or withdraw and have your details removed at any point by contacting the Registry staff.
No information you provide to the Registry will be used for future analyses or publications, nor will any identifying information be made public. The information will be stored securely and indefinitely in an electronic database, unless you no longer wish to be a part of the Registry.
You can review your information or withdraw and have your details removed at any point by contacting the Registry staff.
