Research summary
For most patients, the diagnosis of bipolar disorder often doesn’t occur as quickly as it could. This leads to substantial delays in receiving appropriate treatment, which in turn has serious negative consequences for patients’ health.
As Canada Research Chair in Early Intervention in Psychosis/Bipolar Disorder, Dr. Kamyar Keramatian is exploring the barriers that prevent timely diagnosis and treatment of the disorder and identifying potential ways to ensure earlier intervention. He and his research team are also evaluating the effectiveness of a new psychoeducational and resilience-enhancing program to encourage young individuals at higher risk of developing bipolar disorder to seek help. In addition, the team is identifying potential biomarkers that could predict the development of the disorder in high-risk individuals. Their goal is to ensure that patients with bipolar disorder get the treatment they need as quickly as possible.