International Society For Bipolar Disorders Inc

TO FOSTER INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION IN EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND CLINICAL CARE TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF THOSE WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER AND RELATED CONDITIONS.

MEMBERSHIP: ISBD PROVIDES MEMBERS WITH A SUBSCRIPTION TO "BIPLOAR DISORDERS - AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY AND NEUROSCIENCES". MEMBERS ALSO RECEIVE DISCOUNTS TO ISBD MEETINGS, ACCESS TO RESTRICTED FEATURES IN THE MEMBERS ZONE SECTION OF OUR WEBSITE, VOTING PRIVILEGES, AND THE ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE ORGANIZATIONS AND SPECIAL TASK FORCES ON TOPICS OF IMPORTANCE TO THE FIELD.

CONFERENCES: ISBD HOLDS AN ANNUAL CONFERENCE, WHICH SERVES AS THE MAIN EDUCATION EVENT OF THE SOCIETY AND PROVIDES A MULTITUDE OF OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN AND ENGAGE WITH THE ORGANIZATION. THE CONFERENCE FEATURES KEYNOTE PRESENTATIONS FROM RECOGNIZED AND RESPECTED LEADERS IN THE FIELD, WHILE SUBMITTED PARALLEL SYMPOSIA OPEN THE PROGRAM UP TO CONTRIBUTIONS FROM YOUNG RESEARCHERS WITH NEW DATA. THE PROGRAM ALSO FEATURES BRAINSTORMING SESSIONS STRUCTURED AROUND RESOLVING DIFFICULT CHALLENGES IN THE FIELD AND RAPID COMMUNICATIONS SESSIONS, WHERE CUTTING-EDGE AND NEWLY-EMERGING RESEARCH IS DELIVERED IN SHORT-FORM PRESENTATIONS. IN ADDITION TO THESE FEATURES, THE CONFERENCE HOSTS WORKSHOPS THAT PROVIDE A HANDS-ON APPROACH TO LEARNING UTILIZING CASE STUDIES AND OTHER GROUP LEARNING EXERCISES. WHILE THE PROGRAM IS MAINLY GEARED TOWARDS CLINICIANS AND RESEARCHERS, THE MEETING ALSO INCLUDES ADVOCACY ACTIVITIES HELD IN COLLABORATION WITH PATIENT GROUPS TO BRING INCREASED AWARENESS OF PATIENTS' CONCERNS TO CLINICIANS AND PROMOTE A DIALOGUE BETWEEN THESE PARTIES TO IMPROVE TREATMENT OUTCOMES. THE MEETING TYPICALLY COVERS TOPICS INCLUDING BIPOLAR DISORDERS IN SPECIAL POPULATIONS, BRAIN STRUCTURE AND BRAIN FUNCTION, COMORBIDITY BETWEEN BIPOLAR DISORDERS AND MEDICAL DISORDERS, REVIEWS OF DIAGNOSTIC AND TREATMENT GUIDELINES, NEUROIMAGING STUDIES, BIOMARKERS, GENETICS RESEARCH, AND PSYCHOTHERAPIES AMONG MANY OTHER TOPICS. THE MEETING ALSO SERVES AS A PLACE FOR ISBD TASK FORCES, COMMITTEES AND CHAPTER LEADERS TO ASSEMBLE AND DISCUSS CHALLENGES AND FURTHER THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION.

AWARDS:THE SAMUEL GERSHON AWARDS FOR JUNIOR INVESTIGATORS, NAMED IN HONOR OF DR. SAMUEL GERSON, PAST ISBD PRESIDENT AND PIONEER OF EARLY LITHIUM RESEARCH, OFFER 4 AWARDS FOR ORIGINAL RESEARCH SUBMISSIONS. AWARDS ARE BASED ON THE ORIGINALITY OF THE CONTENT, AS WELL AS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FINDINGS REPORTED, AND ARE EVALUATED BY AN INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC PANEL UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE ISBD. THESE AWARDS ARE OPEN TO PSYCHIATRIC TRAINEES, POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS AND JUNIOR FACULTY UP TO THE ASSISTANT PROFESSOR RANK FROM AROUND THE WORLD. THE AWARDS ARE PRESENTED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SOCIETY'S BIENNIAL MEETING, WHERE THE WINNERS PRESENT THEIR RESEARCH IN A SPECIAL SESSION SHOWCASING THE WORK OF JUNIOR PEOPLE IN THE FIELD.