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The purpose of our overall research study is to identify biological markers for schizophrenia and related mental illnesses. We are gathering mental health information, brain images, cells and genetic material (DNA), as well as blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from persons who appear to have a psychiatric disorder and those who do not. We would like to identify measurable differences that could help doctors identify people who are developing a psychiatric disorder or help us better understand why some patients respond better to treatment than others. 

For this study, we are looking for:

  • Individuals between the ages of 18 and 50 who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder or schizophreniform disorder)
  • Individuals between the ages of 18 and 50 who have been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder
  • Healthy comparison individuals between the ages of 18 and 50

 

Participants in this study will complete:

  • Questionnaires about life experiences and medical history
  • A brief physical exam
  • Neurological assessment
  • Brain imaging
  • Collection of blood, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) via lumbar puncture

 

Study participants will be compensated for their time and travel expenses. Please visit https://ssbcbio.org for more information.

This research aims to better understand brain and behavioral differences in individuals who have a diagnosis of 22q11.2 or 16p11.2 deletions (Del) or duplications (Dup) and their relatives.

Additional Info:

The International Consortium on Brain and Behavior Copy Number Variants (IBBC-CNVs) is a collaborative effort of nine institutions with complementary experience and expertise in phenomics and genomics.

Basic Inclusion Criteria:

  • Ages 7 and up with a diagnosis of 22q11.2 or 16p11.2 deletions (Del) or duplications (Dup) and their relatives.

Study Procedures:

  • Computerized Neurocognitive Battery

  • Interview with either just participant (if 18 or older) or participant and a parent or guardian if under 18

  • Blood sample

Duration:

Approximately 4 hours

Participants will be compensated for their time and reimbursed for any parking or transportation expenses.

Primary Investigator:

Raquel Gur, M.D., Ph.D.

For more information about this study, please call Sean Gallagher at 215-906-5071

This study aims to understand why some people are resilient when experiencing stressful life events as they grow up, while others are susceptible and develop distressing thoughts or emotions.

Basic Inclusion Criteria:

  • Ages 16-30

Procedures:

  • 1-hour interview answering questions about your thoughts and feelings
  • Puzzle-like games on a computer
  • Questionnaires about life history and personality traits
  • Blood sample
  • Saliva Sample
  • Stool Sample
  • Optional Small hair sample

Duration:

Approximately 4 hours

Participants will be compensated for their time and travel.

Primary Investigator:

Ran Barzilay M.D., Ph.D.

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The purpose of this study is to improve our understanding and identification of individuals likely to develop idiopathic psychosis by studying the disruptions in olfactory, brain, and facial morphology in 22q11DS, particularly those with psychosis symptoms.

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Ages 8-30 years 

And fit one of the designated grouping categories:

  • DSM V schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder including schizoaffective disorder, delusional disorder, or psychotic disorder not otherwise specific (NOS), within 5 years of illness onset, defined as the earliest time point for which there is clear evidence of overt psychotic symptoms associated with deterioration in function
  • Clinical Risk status as evidenced by at least 1 positive or 2 negative/disorganized symptoms rate 3 or higher on the Scale of Prodromal Symptoms
  • Healthy subjects within the designated age range, not meeting inclusion criteria for any of the other groups
  • Confirmed 22q11 deletion syndrome

Procedures:

  • Facial structure (2D and 3D images)
  • Brain structure (MRI scan)
  • Olfactory (depth of olfactory sulcus, odor detection, odor identification, odor discrimination, odor detection threshold)

Duration:

One to 5 test sessions about 60-90 minutes

Primary Investigator:

David R. Roalf, Ph.D.

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The purpose of this study is to better understand short-term changes in brain neurochemistry in both normal development and early psychosis in order to improve our understanding and identification of adolescents and young adults at risk for developing psychosis.

Inclusion Criteria:

Ages 13-25 years

And fit one of the designated grouping categories:

  • DSM V Psychosis Spectrum disorder
  • Clinical Risk for psychosis as evidenced by at least 1 positive or 2 negative/disorganized symptoms rate 3 or higher on the Scale of Prodromal Symptoms
  • Healthy subjects within the designated age range, not meeting inclusion criteria for any of the other groups

Procedures:

  • Decision-making and puzzle-like games on a computer (60-75 minutes)
  • Questionnaires about moods and feelings (30-45 minutes)
  • MRI Scan (60-90 minutes)

Duration: 

2-3 test sessions during a 5-year span. 

Participants will be compensated for their time and reimbursed for any parking or transportation expenses.

Primary Investigator:

David R. Roalf, Ph.D.

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The primary purpose of this study is to:

  • Improve the ability to identify youth at-risk of developing psychosis
  • Better understand why some young people develop psychosis and others do not

Basic Inclusion

  • Ages 12-30
  • Noticing a recent change in thinking, behavior, or experiences, such as:
    • Confusion about what is real or imaginary
    • Feeling not in control of your own thoughts of ideas
    • Feeling suspicious or paranoid
    • Having experiences that may not be real, such as hearing sounds or seeing things that may not be there
    • Having trouble communicating clearly
  • Healthy Controls

Procedures

  • Clinical interview
  • Biological Assessments, including:
    • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) brain scans
    • saliva, urine and blood testing
  • Cognitive Testing

Duration

After you provide informed consent you will complete a screening visit to see if you qualify for the study.   This visit will take about 2-3 hours.   

If you qualify for the study, you will be asked to attend 15 additional visits.  The first additional visit (month 0) will last about 8-9 hours and can be split over a few days.  For the remaining visits:

  • 3 visits (months 1, 3, and 6) will last about 2-3 hours, 
  • 7 visits (months 4, 5, 7, 8,  9, 10, and 11)will last less than 1 hour
  • 1 visit (month 2) will last 6 hours and can be split over a few days
  • 1 visit (month 12) will last about 3 to 4 hours
  • 1 visit (month 18) will last about 2 hours
  • 1 visit (month 24) will last about 4 hours

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The primary purpose of this study is to delineate trans diagnostic mood variability using mobile phenomics; to characterize individual differences associated with mood variability

 

Basic Inclusion

  • Ages 13-25
  • Negative pregnancy test
  • Proficiency in English
  • Able to consent and participate

Procedures

Duration

 

 

 

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The primary purpose of this study is to understand the effects of multiple sclerosis (MS) white matter lesions on mood and cognition

 

Basic Inclusion Criteria:

  • Ages 18-80
  • ICD diagnosis of MS (G35) from specialist at UPenn MS Center
  • Proficiency in English
  • Able to consent and participate
  • Clinical MRI scan completed at Penn
     

Study Procedures:

  • Cognitive assessment
    • Penn Computerized Neurocognitive Battery
  • Clinical assessments
    • CAT-GOASSESS
    • Self-report scales about mood and anxiety

 

Duration:

  • After confirming eligibility and providing consent, participants will go through a paid in-person or virtual one-time visit that last approximately 2-3 hours.

 

Primary Investigator:  Erica Baller, M.D., M.S.

 

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The primary purpose of this study is to pilot test an adapted version of the Teen Marijuana Check-Up (TMCU), called The Check Up, for persistent cannabis users with first episode psychosis in Coordinated Specialty Care. The TMCU is a brief intervention designed for heavy cannabis users who are not interested in treatment. The adapted intervention will target CSC engagement, medication adherence, and THC levels to reduce cannabis use and improve functioning and recovery outcomes in First Episode Psychosis (FEP) patients who are persistent cannabis users.

 

Basic Inclusion

  • Ages 13-35
  • In treatment at PERC Clinic
  • Have used cannabis eight or more times in the last month

Procedures

  • Questionnaires, individual interviews

Duration

  • 5.5 to 6 hours total across five visits

 

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The primary purpose of this PNC follow-up study is to understand intergenerational risk and resilience factors of mental health and child development

 

Basic Inclusion

  • Participated in the PNC study

Procedures

  • Online survey

Duration

  • 20 minutes

For more information about this study, please call Megan Himes at 267-734-3458

 

The primary purpose of this study is to explore multi-domain factors (e.g., temperament, parental cognition and mental health, and home environment) that influences a child’s neurodevelopment.

 

Basic Inclusion

  • Children ages 3-8 years old

Procedures

  • Clinical interview
  • Biological Assessments, including:
  • Electroencephalography (EEG)
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG)
  • Saliva
  • Cognitive Testing
  • Self-Report Scales
  • Parent-Child Interaction Tasks

Duration

  • 3 hours

For more information about this study, please call Megan Himes at 267-734-3458 

 

 

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This research aims to investigate the effects of rare CNVs on sleep metrics in order to better understand the brain and behavioral differences of affected individuals, as well as the association of these metrics with ASD diagnosis status.

Additional Information

The International Consortium on Brain and Behavior Copy Number Variants (IBBC-CNVs) is a collaborative effort of nine institutions with complementary experience and expertise in phenomics and genomics.

Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI) is a research program that aims to to improve the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders by funding innovative research of the highest quality and relevance.

 

Basic Inclusion Criteria:

  • Ages 7 and up with a diagnosis of 22q11.2 or 16p11.2 deletions (Del) or duplications (Dup) and their siblings

Study Procedures

  • Computerized Neurocognitive Battery
  • Clinical Interview and Questionnaires
  • Using wearables and sleep monitoring devices for 7 days and nights including a sleep headband, an actigraphy wristwatch, and a sleep mat

Duration

  • Approximately 7 Days and Nights

All devices will be shipped to participants, and study procedures will be done remotely. Participants will be compensated for their time.

 

Primary Investigator:  Raquel Gur, M.D., Ph.D.

 

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This research aims to better understand brain and behavioral differences in individuals with a diagnosis of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome and their biological parents.

Additional Information:

In this longitudinal study, participants are invited to complete a clinical interview, computer testing, and self-report questionaries once a year, for three years. Each consecutive year will be an update of the previous timepoint. The sessions can be done remotely via zoom, or in-person. All participants will be compensated for their time.

 

Basic Inclusion Criteria:

  • Ages 10-30 with a diagnosis of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome and biological parents of affected individuals.

 

Study Procedures:

  • Computerized Neurocognitive Battery
  • Clinical interview with affected individual, or affected individual and parent/guardian, or just parent/guardian about affected individual
  • Blood or Saliva sample
  • Self-report questionnaires

 

Duration:

  • Approximately 4-6 hours for affected individual
  • Approximately 2 hours for parents
    • 30 minutes for each yearly follow-up appointment
  • Participants will be compensated for their time and reimbursed for any parking or transportation expenses

 

Primary Investigator: Raquel Gur, M.D., Ph.D.

 

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The purpose of our overall study is to better understand salience processing and symptoms in individuals who may be clinically high risk (CHR) for psychosis. This study also looks to improve neural circuitry and psychological processes for CHR young adults, including positive and negative symptomology. This study uses brain imaging and behavioral tasks to investigate these topics. 

 

 

Basic Inclusion

  • Age 16-30

  • Fluency in English

  • Negative Pregnancy Test

  • Inclusion criteria differ for participants who may be CHR for psychosis.

Exclusion

  • Intellectual disability

  • Medical/neurological disorder

  • Non-correctable visual impairment/hearing loss

  • Suicidal ideation

  • History of threshold psychosis

  • Exclusion criteria differ for participants who may be CHR for psychosis.

Procedures

  • Surveys and Questionnaires

  • Clinical Interviews

  • Computerized Neurocognitive Battery (CNB)

  • Behavioral Tasks

  • MRI Scan (with tasks)

Duration

  • In total, this study takes about 15 hours to complete over three visits that take place over a two-year span:

    • Baseline Visit (6 hours)

    • 1-Year Follow Up (6 hours)

    • 2-Year Follow Up (3 hours)

 

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The primary purpose of this study is to understand risk factors and mechanisms for underlying the potential development of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADS) and related symptoms.

 

Basic Inclusion Criteria:

  • Female
  • 25-40 years old
  • Ability and willingness to travel to the University of Pennsylvania for study visits
  • If entering the study prior to pregnancy:
    • Trying to conceive or planning to start trying to conceive within the next 6 months
    • Healthy Controls
    • OR at risk of PMADS as determined by reported symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder, premenstrual exacerbation of an underlying disorder, menstrual cycle-related mood symptoms, mood sensitivity to hormonal medications (e.g., contraception, fertility treatments), family history of PMADS, and/or at risk as determined by a reproductive psychiatrist
  • If entering the study after delivery:
    • Be within 1 year postpartum
    • Healthy Controls
    • OR in a current depressive episode that started or worsened in the third trimester of pregnancy or first 6 weeks postpartum and/or have perinatal/postpartum depression that is hormonally-mediated as determined by a reproductive psychiatrist

Procedures:

  • Biological Assessments, including:
    • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) brain scans
    • Saliva and blood collection
    • Ovulation test
  • Cognitive testing
  • Clinical Interviews
  • Self-Report Scales

Duration:

After you provide informed consent you will complete a screening visit to see if you qualify for the study. This visit will take between 30 minutes and 2 hours to complete.

If you qualify for the study, you will be asked to attend 5-9 additional visits. The first preconception visit will last about 4-5 hours. For the remaining visits:

  • 3 optional preconception visits will last about 2.5-3 hours
  • 1 visit (first trimester) will last about 30 minutes – 1 hour
  • 1 visit (second trimester) will last about 30 minutes – 2 hours
  • 1 visit (third trimester) will last about 1.5-3 hours
  • 1 postpartum visit estimated to take 3-3.5 hours
  • 1 optional postpartum visit estimated to take 3-4 hours
 

Additionally you will be asked to complete questionnaires remotely at the following time points postpartum:

  • Questionnaires at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months postpartum are estimated to take 5 minutes
  • Questionnaires at 12 weeks are estimated to take 10-20 minutes

 

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The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between clinical MRI findings and medical and mental health, and, in a sub-cohort, genetics.

 

Basic Inclusion

  • Child: Anyone who completed a clinically-obtained, “normal” MRI from CHOP
  • Parent: biological parent of child who has received an MRI from CHOP

Procedures

Duration

 

 

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The purpose of this study is to scan participants of different ages with and without brain disorders at the Hyperfine 64mT MRI, including participants who may not have been able to be scanned at a high-field MRI (1.5T and 3T), so we can better understand neurodevelopmental neuropathology associated with different disorders.

 

Basic Inclusion

  • Age 5-85

Procedures

Duration

 

 

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