FAQs

1.What is Involved if I or a Family Member Participate in B-SNIP ?

You will be asked to come into the study center of your choice as a subject and sign an Informed Consent. The Informed Consent is a document that explains all the procedures of the study and is provided to help you decide if you want to participate. The procedures involved in the study include interviews, paper and pencil and computer testing, an MRI, an electroencephalogram (EEG), eye movement testing, and giving blood for a DNA research bank for current and future psychiatric research. All information obtained from the procedures is kept confidential and will only be used for research purposes.

The interview consists of a private session in which a member of the study staff asks you questions about your background, health and family history in a private interview room. During this session audio or video recording equipment may be used to keep a record of the interview, which can last from 1-3 hours.

The paper and pencil and computer testing consists of a series of simple memory, concentration, and motor function tasks. These are also be done in a private testing room with a member of the study staff, and take approximately one hour.

An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a method of picturing electrical activity in the brain while you do simple tasks. During this session you will sit in a comfortable reclining chair and will view letters, words and symbols on a computer screen or listen to sounds on headphones. This session will last approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a technique in which a large magnet and radio waves are used to create pictures of your brain. You cannot do the MRI if you are pregnant or have certain types of metal in your body, and the research staff will make collect enough information about possible metal objects before this session. Although this MRI is not meant to be diagnostic or therapeutic, a radiologist reads all subjects’ scans to determine if there are any abnormalities. There is no guarantee that any or all abnormalities will be found, but if incidental findings are noted one of the physicians supervising the study will inform you by telephone. With your written permission we can provide a copy of your radiology study report to the physician of you choice for further review.

During the eye movement testing you sit in a comfortable chair and view moving objects on a computer screen, while your eyes are monitored by a camera. This session is done in a private room and lasts approximately 1 hour.

DNA for the study’s research DNA bank is gathered by drawing four tubes of blood. A professionally trained member of the research staff draws your blood in a private room with the necessary medical equipment. A small needle is used to collect the blood, a small amount of pressure is applied to the area after the collection to help with clotting, and a band-aid is applied. The genetic testing done on the DNA will be used to show whether certain genes have a role in mental illness. Your name will not be on the sample, and the results of the testing will not be used for any diagnostic purpose and will not be added to your medical record. We will use your DNA to study differences in genes between individuals and to identify genes influencing psychiatric and behavioral disorders and characteristics of brain structure and function. Your DNA will be kept in the research DNA bank indefinitely as a reference for current and future psychiatric studies.

2. What produres are carried out during the study?

All procedures are painless and consist of the following:

Clinical Interviews: Conversations with members of the research staff to gather background information.
Neuropsychological Testing: Simple tests of memory and attention.

Neurological Examination: An evaluation of how brain and nerves are working by testing mental, sensory, motor, and reflex function.

Laboratory Tests: A small sample of blood will be analyzed to study the genetic component. (A urine sample may also be required to document that test performance is free from the influence of drugs/alcohol.)

Evoked Potentials: A record of brain activity as the research volunteer reacts to changes in sound and light while relaxed.

Neuroimaging: Several safe, non-invasive, non-radioactive brain MRI scans will be administered. Over two sessions, structural scans map the brain’s anatomy during rest and the functional scan (fMRI) maps the brain’s activity while performing tasks.

3. Will i be compensated?

Every participant will receive payment depending on the site for completing the study. There is no charge for any test. Whenever possible, we will assist with free transportation and lodging for participants living outside the immediate hospital area.

4. How do i enroll?

There are Study Co-ordinators at each of the sites in the study. You can contact the coordinator at the site most convenient for you to visit.The study coordinators can both answer questions about what is involved in if you want to participate in
B-SNIP, and also make arrangements for your study participation.