WELCOME TO
THE BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY LABORATORY
HADASSAH HOSPITAL, EIN KAREM, JERUSALEM
This
site provides information to the public
regarding the Laboratory's on-going
research projects.
The Biological
Psychiatry Laboratory was established in
1990 by Prof.
Bernard Lerer. The Laboratory is
located at Hadassah Hospital in Ein Karem,
Jerusalem, and operates under the
auspices of the Psychiatry Department as
well as the Hebrew University Medical
School.
Roland C.Wilkie,
1996. - La Guerre de la Riviere
(Courtesy of Singul'Art Outsider Art Inc.
c. Dr C. Shriqui)
In
the Laboratory, there are several
researchers working on various projects.
In the field of molecular psychiatry, the
laboratory is active in researching the
genetic aspects of psychiatric disorders.
The Laboratory is part of a worldwide
effort which is being invested in the
search for possible genetic factors which
may partially explain psychiatric illness.
This type of research is particularly
important, as understanding the genetic
background of an illness can be very
helpful in the effort to improve both the
diagnostic and the pharmacological tools
available to treatment providers. We
believe that in the long term, research
in the field will provide considerable
improvement in the quality of the lives
of those suffering from psychiatric
illness. For this reason, the Laboratory
is actively seeking families who are
willing to help us in our attempt to
uncover the genetic basis of these
disorders.
For
more information, please choose one of
the following subjects:
Schizophrenia is a
psychiatric disorder that mainly affects
young people and is the major cause of
long-term psychiatric impairment. About 1
percent of the world's population (including
Israel) suffers from schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia is a
disorder which affects thinking and
perception. People suffering from
schizophrenia tend to disengage from
reality and may think in a disordered
fashion, experience hallucinations (see
visions, hear voices) or have irrational
thoughts. The disorder is related to
chemical imbalances in the brain.
Medication is often helpful in
alleviating the symptoms, although social
and daily functioning may still be
impaired. Some people suffer from short
episodes and recover, while others suffer
more severely with a more chronic impact
on their lives.
The Biological
Psychiatry Laboratory collaborates with
researchers all over the world in an
effort to unravel the genetic components
of schizophrenia, and has contributed to
advances made in the field. Information
regarding scientific publications can be
found in the Research Projects, News and
Publications pages of this site. The
Laboratory is part of the Israel
Molecular Psychiatry Consortium and is
active in the Schizophrenia Working Group
of this organization.
Currently, the
Biological Psychiatry Laboratory is
investing extensive efforts in locating
families with at least two siblings who
are either currently ill or have suffered
from schizophrenia in the past. Over the
last several years, the laboratory has
established cooperative efforts with
various mental health clinics throughout
Israel, which serve all parts of the
population. The clinic staffs help in
making contact with families. The
willingness of large numbers of families
to participate in the project allows us
to utilize state of the art techniques
for data analysis, and maximize the
potential for a major contribution in the
field.
The Biological
Psychiatry Laboratory is looking for
families in which two siblings (or more)
have at some time in their life either
been diagnosed with schizophrenia or
suffered from some form of psychotic
illness.
The laboratory staff
are prepared to travel anywhere in Israel
and meet with participants either in
their homes or elsewhere, determined by
the subject. There is no need to come
to Hadassah or to Jerusalem!!!
The laboratory staff
will not contact anyone (treatment
personnel or family) without the subject's
consent. Full medical confidentiality is
strictly observed.
For more information,
we can be contacted either by email or
telephone:
biopsych@hadassah.org.il
 |
Kyra
Kanyas |
02-6778120 |
02-6416571 |
| Osnat
Karni |
02-6777413 |
02-6428649 |
Bipolar disorder (Manic-Depressive
Illness) affects about 1 percent of the
population and is apparently caused by a
chemical imbalance in the brain combined
with various environmental effects. The
disorder is characterized by drastic mood
swings. There are periods of inflated
mood and periods of depression.
Sometimes, the extreme moods may
alternate. These extreme mood swings
cause people to behave in a manner that
is not necessarily characteristic of them:
for example, during periods of elevated
mood, people may experience a decreased
need for sleep, increased speech, over-activity
and risk taking. The disorder causes an
impairment in functioning; however,
medication can considerably improve the
quality of life of people with this
disorder . The Biological Psychiatry
Laboratory collaborates with researchers
all over the world and has contributed to
of many publications in the field.
Information about professional
publications can be found in this site
under Research
Projects, Publications and Research News. The
Laboratory is part of an international
collaborative project funded by the U.S,
National Institute of Health (NIH).
Within this framework, we are actively
seeking families in which there are two
or more siblings who at some time of
their life have suffered from an episode
of elevated mood or have been diagnosed
as suffering from Bipolar Disorder.
Who
is eligible to participate in the project?
The
laboratory is looking for families in
which families in which there are two (or
more) siblings whom at some time of their
lives have suffered from bipolar disorder
or have experienced an episode of
extremely elevated mood.
What
does participation in the project entail?
- An interview
with a staff member of the
laboratory (psychiatrist,
psychologist or social worker)
- A blood
sample
The
laboratory staff is prepared to travel
anywhere in Israel and meet with
participants either in their homes or in
somewhere else, determined by the
subjects. There is no need to come to
Hadassah or to Jerusalem!!!
The
laboratory staff will not contact anyone
(treatment personnel or family) without
the subject's consent. Full medical
confidentiality is strictly observed.
How
to contact us:
For
more information, we can be contacted
either by email or telephone: biopsych@hadassah.org.il
|
Kyra
Kanyas |
02-6778120 |
02-6416571 |
| Osnat
Karni |
02-6777413 |
02-6428649 |
The Eating Disorders
project is a relatively new initiative of
the Biological Psychiatry Laboratory. In
1997,based on initial findings in the
field indicating a potential genetic
predisposition to eating disorders among
young women, the laboratory initiated an
innovative and wide-ranging project
encompassing the biological and
psychological aspects of eating disorders.
Within Hadassah, the laboratory began a
collaborative effort with Prof. Elliot
Berry from the Hadassah Medical School,
who is a widely known expert in the field,
and with the in- and outpatient units of
the psychiatry department. More recently,
the Eating Disorders Unit at Rambam
Hospital, headed by Dr. Yael Latzer, with
the collaboration of Dr. Miki Bloch, has
joined our efforts.
Currently, the
Laboratory is investing much effort in
locating families in which a daughter has
been diagnosed at some time in her life
as suffering from Anorexia Nervosa.
The laboratory is
looking for families in which one or more
daughters have suffered from Anorexia
Nervosa at some time in their life.
The laboratory staff
is prepared to travel anywhere in Israel
and meet with participants either in
their homes or elsewhere, as determined
by the subjects. There is no need to
come to Hadassah or to Jerusalem!!!
The laboratory staff
will not contact anyone (treatment
personnel or family) without the subject's
consent. Full medical confidentiality is
strictly observed.
For more information,
we can be contacted either by email or
telephone:
biopsych@hadassah.org.il
|
Kyra
Kanyas |
02-6778120 |
02-6416571 |
| Osnat
Karni |
02-6777413 |
02-6428649 |
|
