Manpreet K. Singh, M.D., M.S.

Fellow in Child & Adolescent Depression

Project Details

PROJECT TITLE

Emotion Dysregulation in Adolescents with BiPolar Disorder

PROJECT SUMMARY

Pediatric bipolar disorder (BD) is a common, serious, and recurrent psychiatric disorder.  Mania, or an elevated mood state, marks the onset of bipolar I disorder, which commonly occurs in adolescence.  However, few studies have examined the specific underlying mechanisms of mania or regulation of emotion during mania in adolescents.  With functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), we can bridge a clinical assessment of mania and emotion regulatory processes with biologically mediated brain abnormalities to advance our understanding of the early characteristics of BD.

The overall objective of this project is to use behavioral and fMRI tools to advance our understanding of the neural processes that modulate emotion in adolescents early in the course of BD.  Through this study, Dr. Singh will be able to develop a better understanding of how BD develops in adolescents by exploring how adolescents with a recent onset of mania process emotional stimuli, including the anticipation and receipt of rewards.

By integrating clinical and information-processing measures, and neural responses to reward stimuli, Dr. Singh will examine mechanisms of emotion regulation in adolescents, ages 13-18 years, who experienced their first manic episode within the previous six months.  These adolescents will be compared on these measures to an age, gender, and ethnicity matched group of healthy adolescents with no personal or family history of psychopathology.

This study will advance our understanding of the neural basis of BD in adolescents, and may provide targets for early intervention and treatment that may prevent or delay the progression of severe illness.

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