Early Mental Health Screening for Youth Ages 7-21 With a Parent Diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder Using a Family-Centered Decision Aid and Remote Screening

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating a family-centered approach to early mental health screening for youth aged 7 to 21 who have a biological parent diagnosed with bipolar disorder. This study aims to develop and test a video decision aid to help caregivers understand genetic risks and make informed screening decisions. It also assesses whether remote screening tools are feasible and acceptable and whether screening results can guide personalized follow-up care. Participants may take part in various activities, including co-designing the educational decision aid, providing feedback on prototypes, beta testing the decision aid, and completing remote mental health screenings. The screening combines fixed prodromal symptom items with computerized adaptive tests to identify early risk patterns. The study does not assign treatments or alter existing clinical care. During the study, participants provide input through workshops and interviews, complete questionnaires, and for youth, take screening surveys to detect early signs of bipolar disorder risk. Researchers will measure caregiver understanding and decision aid usability, youth screening uptake and completion rates, and feedback from both youth and caregivers. The study also monitors safety flags and risk categories, aiming to establish a scalable model for early psychiatric risk detection in youth with familial bipolar disorder history.

FOCUS Bipolar: Families Opening Conversations for Understanding Signs