Download What are the benefits - Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Children’s Study of Mental
Health and Brain Development
What are the benefits?
• Your participation may help people in
the future by increasing our
understanding of brain development in
middle childhood.
Payment
• Participating families will earn $125-175
for completing this study.
For more information,
Please call or email:
Corin Pilo, LMHC
(617) 754-1224 or
[email protected]
Principal Investigators
Larry J. Seidman, PhD,
Matcheri Keshavan, MD,
John Gabrieli, PhD
Study Locations
This study is being conducted at:
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
330 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA 02215
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT),
Martinos Imaging Center
Main Street @ Albany Street
Cambridge, MA 02139
Massachusetts Mental Health Center
75 Fenwood Rd, Boston, MA 02115
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Department of Psychiatry at the
Massachusetts Mental Health Center
75 Fenwood Rd
Boston, MA 02115
Fax: (617) 754-1250
Do you have a diagnosis of
schizophrenia or schizoaffective
disorder?
Do you have a child ages 7-12?
Participate in a study looking at brain
development in children.
What’s Involved?
Background
Schizophrenia is a brain disorder that
often starts in late adolescence or early
adulthood. However, it is likely that brain
changes in earlier childhood occur before
the symptoms of the illness begin.
The purpose of this study is to observe the
neural, psychological and cognitive
development in children. Learning about
how the brain develops in middle
childhood is a key step to early detection
of illnesses.

Phone screen for eligibility

Parent Assessments (totaling 2-3 hours):
o Interview on psychological symptoms and
questions about your child’s behavior

Child Assessments (totaling 4-5 hours):
o Interview of psychological symptoms
and behaviors
o Paper /pencil and computer tests of
cognitive functioning (e.g., tests of
memory, attention, and reading).
o Brain Scan (MRI) to assess brain structure
and function.
The earlier detection of brain problems
will help improve strategies for
identification and treatment of people at
risk. Access to earlier treatments could
lessen the severity of symptoms or
prevent illness from occurring in some
cases.
Who Can Participate?
The Children’s Study is looking for 2-3
family members willing to participate:
One Parent must be:
 18-75 years old
 Diagnosed with schizophrenia or
schizoaffective disorder
 Have a child aged 7-12 without
psychosis
 Fluent in English
Children must be:
 7-12 years old
 Have no history of psychosis
 Have a parent with a diagnosis of
schizophrenia or schizoaffective
disorder
 Fluent in English
 Have no contraindications to MRI
(e.g., certain types of metal in the
body or claustrophobia)
Optional Second Parent must be:
*Children will also be offered a mock MRI scan so
they can become familiar with the MRI machine.
All of the information you provide,
including your name, will be kept
private.
 18-75 years old
 A parent of the child ages 7-12
without psychosis
 Fluent in English