Download a PDF of the 2012 Annual Report - Black Dog Institute

...80 per cent of bipolar disorderis hereditary......10 per cent of people withbipolar disorder take their lives......10 per cent of bipolar sufferersmake one suicide attempt everyyear“We are tracking participants who have at leastone relative with bipolar disorder or who are sufferersthemselves,” said Professor Mitchell. He believes thereis a growing body of evidence that the earlier thetreatment, the better the outcome.“What we have found so far is that young peoplewith a family history of bipolar disorder respondless adaptively to emotional experiences. This gives usa strong lead in our goal of developing strategies forearly intervention and prevention with those personswho are at risk.”Professor Mitchell said the Bipolar Kids ’n SibsStudy was in its third year and patients are checkedevery year, while every two years brain scans arerepeated to look at changes in the brain over time.New recruits, aged between 12 to 30 years,are still being sought. To participate or obtain moreinformation, phone 1800 352 292 or email: bipolarkidsandsibs@unsw.edu.auBLACK DOG 201215