Task Forces
Task forces are one of the cornerstones of the Society’s activities. Task Forces represent the key research activities of the Society. Each task force focuses on a separate topic and aims to examine and synthesize evidence usually in the form of position statements and related publications. Information about current and past task forces is shown below.
If you are interested in starting a new task force, please complete the Task Force Proposal Form.
Current Task Forces
Bipolar Disorder in Late Life Task Force
Leads: Kenneth Shulman, Canada; Martha Sajatovic, USA
Brief: to identify the key areas of interest and importance in the understanding and management of bipolar disorders in later life and to provide critical data to better define these disorders.
Clinical Trials Task Force
Leads: Mauricio Tohen, USA
Brief: To appraise current evidence regarding opportunities and challenges in clinical trial design for mood disorders and provide relevant recommendations.
Developing a Better Understanding and Comprehensive Approach to Suicide Prevention Among People with Bipolar Disorder
Leads: Ayal Schaffer
Brief: To determine the risks, characteristics, and neurobiological aspects of suicide and suicide attempts associated with Bipolar Disorder and to develop recommendations for clinical, research, and educational/advocacy strategies to better understand and lower the elevated suicide rates.
Update: A symposium on the ISBD Suicide Task Force entitled "Suicide in Bipolar Disorder: Current State of Knowledge Based on Work of the International Society for Bipolar Disorders Task Force on Suicide" has been accepted for presentation at the World Congress on Suicide in Montreal on Tuesday, June 11, 2013.
Pediatric Bipolar Disorder Task Force
Lead: Eric Youngstrom, USA
Brief: To review and synthesize evidence for the clinical presentation of Bipolar Disorder in childhood and adolescence, examine its relationship to other childhood disorders and propose strategies for the identification, treatment and research in early onset cases.
Prodromal Syndrome in Bipolar Disorder
Lead: Gianni Faedda, USA
Brief: To delineate the prodromal features of Bipolar Disorder and to develop recommendations for appropriate assessment research and service provision to improve the understanding and care at the early phases of Bipolar Disorder.
Staging
Lead: Flavio Kapczinski
Brief: To examine evidence of proposed models for clinical staging, specify consensus criteria for their operational definition and field testing.
The Role of Antidepressants in Bipolar Disorder
Lead: Eduard Vieta, Spain
Brief: To review, appraise and synthesize evidence relating to the controversy about the usefulness of antidepressants in Bipolar Disorder.
Transcultural Bipolar Disorder Task Force
Lead: Ketil Oedegaard, Norway
Brief: To study culture, ethnicity and the practice of medicine related to bipolar patients in order to describe how scio-cultural variations might represent a challenge to providing effective medical care to patients with Bipolar Disorder.
Women's Health Task Force
Lead: Aysegul Ozerdem
Brief: To increase awareness towards finding solutions to unmet needs in issues, which are related to the female gender with bipolar illness and improving quality of care of our patients from a bio-psycho-social perspective.
