Would you ever...

Would you ever participate in a BP research study? Would you do pure behavioral studies, or would you do medication studies as well? (And by "behavioral", I'm talking about therapy studies and stuff like that.)

I've considered doing a BP behavioral study. It's extra money in my pocket. I don't think I could ever do a medication study, though.

I was going to do an anxiety (OCD) research study in 2013, but I didn't meet the full criteria.

I would not do either since I already feel a guinea pig from the crap that all doctors try to foist upon me.

I have been in one for years. Its easy. In fact reminds me that I should call them. Its that time of year.

How would someone get involved in one ?

I was told about it by my pdoc. Its a huge study they're doing at University of Michigan.

I would give both a try. Maybe they could help me.

I did a medication study when I was first diagnosed. It was a good thing; I was treated by a man who is supposed to be one of the top experts in bipolar for 6 months. The study was testing whether a combination of lamictal, depakote and lithium would help rapid cyclers because they'd found that depakote and lithium did and the anti-depressant properties of lamictal made it seem logical that it might add to that.

As far as I know it was never published so I think that probably means it didn't work. I was hospitalized with someone who did the same study and she also didn't think it had been published.

One of the best things was that part of the study was education and I learned a great deal about the illness during my visits.

No, I wouldn't. A lot of these studies make you go off all your current meds. And in the case of medication studies, you may get the placebo. Only way I'd consider it is if I was already off everything for some other reason.

I don't know. It depends on what the studies are looking for.

Medication study would be a huge NO. Not with my record with side effects. A behavioral study? Perhaps. I would need to know the purpose of the study to determine if I felt it was ethically ran with a positive possible outcome for sufferers.

I forgot that I'm also involved currently with a study related to the genetic testing people have had done. I'm waiting for them to get enough people in phase one so I can do phase 2.