| |
Last updated: April 2008
I. LOCAL SUPPORT GROUPS
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance. http://dbsalliance.org/index.html
Largest national education and advocacy group on Mood Disorders, Headquartered here in Chicago. Supports research, education, clinical trials. Local and national chapters w/ support groups and meetings, newsletters, ask the experts sections. Web site is phenomenally extensive and well-organized. Info is current and accurate. Best single source of up-to-date info and resources about the illness!!!!!
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)
730 N. Franklin Street, Suite 501
Chicago, Illinois 60610-7224 USA
Toll free: (800) 826-3632
Fax: (312) 642-7243
II. WEB SITES
http://dbsalliance.org/index.html
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
Per above: best single source of information, contacts and resources on this illness. Provides both local and national resources.
http://www.stanleyresearch.org/
Stanley Medical Research Institute.
Foremost funder and coordinator of national and international research on bipolar d/o and schizophrenia. Funds and lists clinical trials on novel drug compounds, psychotherapies, electrical stimulation treatments, sleep modifications, etc… Lists which trials are ongoing, whether accepting new patients. This site is only about research. No clinical info.
http://www.bpkids.org/
Child and Adolescent analogue to dbsa site.
Excellent, authoritative, comprehensive site providing clinical, educational and research info about pediatric and adolescent forms of illness. Links to local chapters, advocacy groups, workshops for parents, educators, etc.
www.jbrf.org
The Juevenile Bipolar Research Foundation
The Juvenile Bipolar Research Foundation is the first charitable organization solely dedicated to the support of research for the study of early-onset bipolar disorder. The board is a remarkable one, made up of dedicated parents, treating professionals and world class clinical investigators and basic science researchers. Mainly a fundraising org that supports research into juvenile bipolar disorder.
www.isbd.org
International Society for Bipolar Disorders
University of Pittsburgh – based website for solid info on diagnosis, treatment, education and research. The University started the well-respected medical journal, Bipolar Disorders, and hosts the annual Bipolar Disorders conference. Good links and faq sections. Good but not as comprehensive as DBSA site.
www.dshs.state.tx.us/mhprograms/TIMA.shtm
Texas Implementation of Medication Algorithms for Bipolar Disorders. Evidence-based and consensus driven guidelines for treatment of manic/hypomanic/mixed, acute bipolar depression, and maintenance phase treatments. Detailed, high level guidelines requiring knowledge of medications and illness states.
http://www.mcmanweb.com/
Personally run site by financial journalist with bipolar disorder. Presents information from the patient’s view, emphasizing ‘knowledge is power/control’ belief. Links w/ many journal articles, personal accounts and other sites. With its multiple links and Mr. John McManamy's proliferative writing, it is difficult to do a through review on this site. Generally speaking this site is up-to-date and advocates for people suffering from bipolar disorder.
http://www.psycheducation.org/
One of my favorites. Run by a solo psychiatrist in Corvallis, OR, this site provides information on a handful of psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder, OCD, panic, etc. Extremely well-referenced, it is simultaneously sophisticated and easy to understand.
http://www.mentalhealth.com/
Renamed to Internet Mental Health. Very thorough, factually-based site by a Canadian psychiatrist, Phillip Long, M.D. It gives a comprehensive description of BP d/o, complete w/ references, linked articles, self-help groups, books, rating scales, treatment algorithms - a complete guide for patients, their families, and mental health professionals. Excellent.
http://www.nmh.org/
The website for Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, IL. Beyond providing a smattering of general health info, it also contains a directory of all NMH physicians.
Advocacy Organizations:
Mental Health America
http://www.nmha.org/
Mental Health America (formerly known as the National Mental Health Associations) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting mental wellness. The site has detailed information on a wide range of issues, all major mental illness, and an impressively tailored set of information for target groups, e.g., African American, military, etc. The organization also encourages taking action on social and policy-making issues. Even with the vast amount of information, this site is surprisingly easy to navigate.
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI)
http://www.nami.org/
NAMI is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improve the lives of person with serious mental illness and their families. The site has tremendous amount of useful information divided into three categories: inform yourself, find support, and taking action. Due to the complexity of this site, it might take several steps to reach the right location.
Depression/Bipolar Support Alliance
http://dbsalliance.org/index.html
Per above: best single source of information regarding mood disorders, contacts, and resources on this illness. Provides both local and national resources.
Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
http://www.bazelon.org/
This website has information on mental health law. Use it for questions about the Americans with Disabilities Act and other civil rights issues regarding mental health. Also keep up to date on recent legal decisions regarding mental health issues.
http://thelegalcenter.org
Find information and help on a number of legal issues including housing and occupational needs.
http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/
On this website you will find the Surgeon General’s first ever report on mental health (1999) as well as subsequent reports. You can download it or order a copy through the US Government Bookstore in Denver.
Hope, Healing, & Help for Mental Health, Trauma, & Abuse
http://mskinnermusic.com
Through music, resources, and advocacy.
http://needymeds.com
This website has information on Pharmaceutical programs of assistance providing medications for those who qualify.
http://www.namiscc.org/newsletters/February02/PatDeegan.htm
Pat Deegan eloquently tells her story and speaks loudly and clearly for the recovery movement.
For an excellent article on recovery and recovery research, check this out.
http://www.jan.wvu.edu/media/BiPolar.html.
This link is to Job Accommodation Network with suggested accommodations in the workplace for individuals with bipolar disorder.
Other Web Sites:
Pendulum Resources - http://www.pendulum.org/
A not-for-profit and consumer-contributing site that provides brief summaries on newspaper or journal articles on bipolar disorder that were recently published, oriented toward clinicians or audiences interested in more advanced information. This site is professionally designed and easy to navigate. However, drug companies' advertisements might steer visitors to specific products.
Bipolar World - http://www.bipolarworld.net/
A fun and energetic on-line support group for individuals with bipolar disorder. Besides providing a wide range of tips from symptom management to getting SSI, there are multiple chat rooms and links to different sites. The site is kept current and the information incorporated is fair and non-biased.
Bipolar Disorder - http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/bipolar.html
From home page of Dr. Eric Chudler, a PhD psychologist who teaches neuroscience at Washington University. This site teaches basics of this disorder, including childhood disorder.
Bipolar Disorder - http://www.baltimorepsych.com/Bipolar.htm
Short articles writings by two psychiatrists, GlennBrynes, MD-PhD, and Carol Watkins, MD, on different aspects of bipolar disorder, including childhood disorder; oriented toward lay person.
Bipolar Aware - http://www.bipolaraware.co.uk/index.html
A site created by Mr. Mark Hannant from the UK who has bipolar disorder; a colorful and user-friendly guide for recognition, treatment and prevention; used to have forums and chat room, was not active in July, 2007.
Bipolar Disorder and African American - http://www.nmha.org/infoctr/factsheets/BipolarDisorderAfricanAmericans.cfm
Now under Mental Health America, an excellent site on considering specific needs from a cultural and ethnic understanding, with links to African American physicians, psychiatrists, and pastoral counselors.
Guide to Bipolar Disorder - http://www.bipolarhome.org/
A site originally designed by Charles Geitner who suffered from bipolar d/o and chemical dependence. He passed away in 2002. The site provides basic information and down to earth advice with an active message board.
BPrayer - http://bprayer0.tripod.com
Family members from Christian faith are the target audiences. For significant others only; offers information, support, resources, discussion group.
Bipolar Help Center - http://www.bipolarhelpcenter.com/
Maintained by Eli Lilly, providing easily understood information for patients and family members. Besides the Lilly logo, no direct advertisements.
Fyreniyce - http://members.iinet.net.au/~fractal1
A web site created by an Australian woman, Fractal, that covers a wide range of topics that a person with bipolar disorder may encounter. The site is easy to use. Advice is based on personal experiences but generally speaking supportive and helpful, discusses basics plus self medication, illness's tie to creativity. Moderates email discussion group and MOO (chat room).
Lithium: Mineral And Drug - http://www.fortunecity.com/campus/psychology/781/lithium.htm
Describes history and current uses of this salt in treatment of mood disorders.
Manic Depressive Self Test - http://www.mentaljokes.com/manic_test.html
A lite look at bipolar symptoms.
Bipolar Hope - http://www.bipolarhope.org
Oriented toward persons with bipolar disorder, is supportive and offers helpful information: brief description of illness, extensive listing of resources, and ezboard discussion group link.
Bipolar Noise - http://www.angelfire.com/fl5/bipolarnoise/
Developed by a woman who suffered from bipolar disorder. In addition to basic information, the site touches upon work issues, news and research, self-diagnosis, and personal writings.
Bipolar Disorder: Signs, Symptoms and Treatment - http://helpguide.org/mental/bipolar_disorder_symptoms_treatment.htm
A helpguide created in 1999 by the Rotary Club of Santa Monica after two members lost their daughter to suicide; intended to be free from commercial influence. In addition to links, fact sheet provides brief summary of illness. Professional design with detailed but easily digested knowledge.
III. RESEARCH STUDIES & RESEARCH FACILITIES
www.stepbd.org
NIMH sponsored web site that provides info for public and researchers on this national, multi-center study of bipolar disorders. It includes a complete list of all publications generated from the study so far. The STEP-BD study is the largest, North American study ever undertaken to exclusively examine bipolar disorder.
IV. SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER, PHOTOTHERAPY
http://www.bio-light.com/
http://www.apollohealth.com/
http://www.lighttherapy.com/
All three sites provide useful info about sleep disorders associated with bipolar illness, circadian dysregulation, and the antidepressant and chronotropic/entraining effects of bright light, dawn simulation, and, to a lesser extent, melatonin.
www.sltbr.org
Society for Light Treatment and Biological Rhythms (SLTBR)
SLTBR is a not-for-profit international organization founded in 1988, dedicated to fostering research, professional development and clinical applications in the fields of light therapy and biological rhythms. It has an excellent set of links to informational, research, educational and clinical resources.
www.cet.org
A premier site created by researchers at Columbia University in NY and contributed to by virtually all significant academicians in the field. This site provides information about the disorder, articles, a store from which to order various light devices, and links. Its information is accurate, authoritative and timely.
http://www.circadian.com
The Circadian Learning Center, developed by Circadian Technologies, Inc., presents a tutorial on the biological clock and its effects on activities of daily living.
http://nuinfo.nwu.edu.ezproxy.galter.northwestern.edu/ccbm/intro.html
Introduction to Circadian Rhythms is a brief description of daily biological rhythms.
http://www.med.harvard.edu/publications/On_The_Brain/Volume04/Number4/F95Clock.html
In Clockwork Genes, a brief review of the genetics of biological rhythms, Charles J. Weitz describes the work of Jean-Jacques de Mairan.
http://www.hfskyway.com/hfami/hfg/hfgtoc.htm
The Human Factors Guide for Aviation Maintenance includes a chapter on Shiftwork and Scheduling which discusses chronobiology in relation to work schedules. Background information in this chapter includes a brief history of chronobiology research.
Circadian Rhythms, a page maintained at the Mayo Clinic, describes "zeitgebers."
In Melatonin, http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/0944.html, the value and possible side effects of melatonin supplements are discussed. This page is presented by Go Ask Alice!, an interactive question and answer service from Healthwise, the Health Education division of Columbia University Health Services.
'Traveling light' has new meaning for jet laggards is a brief article from Smithsonian Magazine that describes the role of melatonin in jet lag and other phenomena related to circadian rhythms.
The Circadian Learning Network shows the location of the suprachiasmatic nucleus in the human brain.
Researchers Dissect the Tick and Tock of the Human Body's Master Clock is an article in JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, that describes the suprachiasmatic nucleus and includes illustrations.
SAD--Seasonal Affective Disorder, http://www.sad.com/, describes winter depression and its treatment.
Memorial Resolution: Colin S. Pittendrigh (1919-1996) was published in the Stanford Report.
Seasonal Affective Disorders and Phototherapy is available from Guilford Publications.
Sleep and Biological Rhythms is available from Oxford University Press.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, http://www.va.gov/
Yale University
New York State Psychiatric Institute
Columbia University
V. LIFE/MOOD CHARTING & SELF-MONITORING METHODS
http://www.chronorecord.org/
Not-for-profit research group that provides electronic, home computer-based software to record and track mood, sleep, stressors, medications and other variables over time. Software costs $25.00 if person agrees to allow their anonymous data to be used in research; $50.00 if not.
Fees include: software, over-the-phone training. Encrypted data is emailed to organization once per month. They process information and send both patient and clinician a graphic read-out of that month’s mood tracking. This is a simple, quick way to track mood changes and it provides extremely important information for both patient and clinician in understanding the course of mood changes, precipitants to episodes, response to medications, etc.
References on Life-Charting
Leverich GS, Post RM (1996). Life charting the course of bipolar disorder. Curr Rev Mood Anxiety Disord 1:48-61.
Denicoff KD, Smith-Jackson EE, Disney ER, Suddath RL, Leverich GS, Post RM (1997). Preliminary evidence of the reliability and validity of the prospective life-chart methodology (LCM-p). J Psychiatr Res 31:593-603.
Post RM, Leverich GS, Denicoff KD, Frye MA, Kimbrell TA, Dunn R (1997). Alternative approaches to refractory depression in bipolar illness. Depression Anxiety 5:175-189.
Sachs, G Step-BP Blank Mood Chart, Available at http://www.manicdepressive.org/images/moodchart.pdf
|
|
