*note: this is a bit different than the one posted before!*

Are there multiple individuals in your family affected with a mood disorder like depression or bipolar disorder?

Johns Hopkins is recruiting families (parents and children and/or groups of brothers and sisters) for a nationwide study aimed at locating the genes associated with bipolar disorder and depression.

Participation includes an interview, which lasts about 2 hours, and a blood draw of about 3 tablespoons of blood.

You do not need to be in Baltimore to participate. Interviews can be done over the phone and the blood draw can be coordinated at a site that is convenient for you, like your general practitioner or a local lab.

Participants may be eligible for other research studies being conducted.

Confidentiality is ensured. Participants will be reimbursed at least $75 for completing the interview and blood draw. Please contact our research staff at 410-614-1017 or moods@<hidden>.

Principal Investigator: James B. Potash, M.D., M.P.H., 85-01-07-01

thanks for posting

Okay, have some information about this one. First, it is still going on. Second, Yes, they want participants that have family members also afflicted with one/both of these disorders BUT It Is Not Necessary for Your Family Members To Take Part In The Study. You will need to complete the screener interview to see if you are eligible to participate. Once you have been accepted you will do a blood draw. They will mail you the kit and make arrangements to have the blood drawn. The package is then sent via FedEx back to John Hopkins by the lab that draws the blood. All postage is paid by John Hopkins. You will then do the phone interview that takes about 2 hours. A few weeks after completion of the telephone interview you are laughing your depressed/manic butt all the way to the bank and cashing a 75.00 check.
I have completed an almost identical study with Columbia University. It was a piece of cake. (they paid 150.00 though)

they told me that if you have depression, you can't have a family member with bipolar. if that helps anyone.