The Juvenile Bipolar Research Foundation Announces the Publication of an Article in the Journal of Psychiatry and Brain Science

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., March 5, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Juvenile Bipolar Research Foundation (JBRF) announces the publication of an article in the Journal of Psychiatry and Brain Science (JPBS) that describes the ground-breaking discoveries of the Foundation's research team.

For nearly 20 years, the JBRF has sought to change the way juvenile bipolar disorder is diagnosed and treated. "Although we still have far to go towards that goal, the publication of this article represents a significant milestone in our efforts because we can now demonstrate not only a revolutionary medical diagnostic basis for a psychiatric disorder, but also a safe, effective, and economical treatment," noted Dr. Steven Mattis, President of the JBRF Board of Directors

In summary, the article describes three elements:

1. How the researchers arrived at the identification of a sub-set or phenotype within patients diagnosed with juvenile bipolar disorder. This sub-set or phenotype is characterized by unique constellation of symptoms, including – for the first time – a physical biomarker for a psychiatric diagnosis. The physical biomarker that sets these patients apart is a congenital deficit in thermoregulation – or more simply expressed – these patients "run hot".

2. How thermoregulatory dysfunction is both responsible for the psychiatric symptoms as well as a reliable gauge of treatment response.

3. How treatment with intranasal ketamine provides rapid and sustained relief of the psychiatric symptoms, through a proposed molecular mechanism of action.

Because many of the psychiatric symptoms involve a crippling fear of harm to self and others, the researchers of the JBRF have named the phenotype Thermoregulatory Fear of Harm Mood Disorder (FOH).

While FOH mood disorder is as yet unknown to the clinical as well as general population, the unmet need for identification and treatment is high and the numbers are not small. Not only do these patients not respond to current medication regimes, but it is estimated that approximately 1/3 of all youths diagnosed with bipolar disorder fall into this subgroup, and the same ratio potentially holds true for the adult population. Up to 2 million adults and children in the US could benefit not only from this clear diagnosis, but also treatment, which demonstrably transforms lives.

According to Dr. Demitri Papolos, Director of Research at the JBRF, "This is why we need to get our research into the hands of practitioners and parents, because until now there has been no clear way to diagnose this mood disorder. Most patients are given incorrect or overlapping diagnoses, such as for ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) or DMDD (Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder) and standard treatments usually fail to work. Now that we understand the cause and potential treatment mechanism for FOH, we can bring lasting relief to these patients and their families."

Link to JPBS article: https://jpbs.hapres.com/UpLoad/PdfFile/jpbs_1004.pdf

Link to longitudinal study on the efficacy and safety of intranasal ketamine for https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28866299

For more information on the JBRF and our mission, please see the JBRF website: http://www.jbrf.org

Contact:
Anna-Christina Allen
The Juvenile Bipolar Research Foundation
277 Martine Ave, Suite 226
White Plains, NY 10601
Phone: 914-468-1297
Fax: 914-468-1298
Info(at)jbrf.org
http://www.jbrf.org

The JBRF is a New York based non-profit organization dedicated to finding relief to those who suffer from Juvenile Bipolar Disorder.

The mission of the JBRF is to raise and distribute funds for the most promising research into the causes, treatment and prevention of early‐onset bipolar disorder. In particular, we aim to further investigate and promote awareness of the Fear of Harm phenotype which our research has identified as being simultaneously associated with a distinct biomarker as well as the symptoms of childhood‐onset bipolar disorder.

SOURCE Juvenile Bipolar Research Foundation

Related Links

http://www.jbrf.org