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Dr. C. Bowden & Dr. H. Richard Priesmeyer

KIOS / BIPOLAR: Nonlinear computational tool to chart trajectories of bipolar disorder

Bipolar disease is complex, chronic, recurrent, and full of erratic mood changes. It’s time to track it, understand it, and personalize its treatment.

Currently, management of bipolar disorder typically consists of a combination of medication, therapy, and lifestyle adjustments. What’s missing, however, are tools that clinicians need to select optimal treatments tailored to the individual needs of the patient. Co-Principal Investigators Charles Bowden, M.D. of the University of Texas Health Science Center – San Antonio and H. Richard Priesmeyer Ph.D. of BDC have teamed up to develop a novel computational tool to identify and analyze the underlying dynamic interactions that characterize bipolar disorder. This new knowledge will be used in several ways: 1) as a research tool to assess the efficacy of treatment regimens; 2) as a decisional platform for healthcare providers to identify individualized patterns of illness expression that can guide interventions and suggest evidence-based treatment strategies; and 3) as a mobile health patient-empowering expert system. This project is a Phase I STTR grant funded by the National Institute of Mental Health.

Bipolar disorder is associated with high levels of morbidity, disability, and premature mortality. Bipolar disorder is among the top ten leading causes of disability worldwide, with a lifetime prevalence estimated to be 4.5% in the US.

Bipolar disorder has a substantial effect on many aspects of a patient’s life and is a source of significant economic burden. US direct costs and indirect costs are estimated to be about $70.6 billion annually. The development of computer software that could analyze bipolar disorder data to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments and provide guidance for personalized interventions would have a significant impact on public health.