::Schizophrenia Research Institute::participate in research::

PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH

AUSTRALIAN SCHIZOPHRENIA RESEARCH BANK

Together, we'll see the brain in a new light......

To see the TV advertisement featuring the voice of Russell Crowe, click here.

The Australian Schizophrenia Research Bank is a nationwide collaboration of Australian scientists commited to creating the world’s biggest resource of genetic, clinical and neuroimaging data on schizophrenia.

But we can't do it without your help

The World Health Organisation says that schizophrenia is the third biggest cause of all human disability. It aff ects 1 percent of all populations, and usually appears in early adulthood. It is associated with brain changes that cause delusions, hallucinations, alienation from family and society, and many other disabling symptoms. While the illness can be managed with the help of current treatments, many sufferers remain too disabled to sustain regular employment or lead normal lives.

The five-year task of the Australian Schizophrenia Research Bank is to recruit 2,000 people with schizophrenia and 2,000 people without schizophrenia, and to record their medical and family histories, their genetic profi les, and their MRI brain scans. Then all this information will be cross-referenced so that researchers in Australia and overseas will be better able to identify the origins of the illness, and to develop the means of early detection, prevention and cure.

Be a part of a world-changing research effort

The Australian Schizophrenia Research Bank is the biggest research program of its type ever undertaken in Australia. The 4,000 Australians who participate in this project will be recorded as key contributors to a research resource which may provide a unique breakthrough.

You can help us try to stop schizophrenia by taking three easy steps:

1. The Interview

You will be invited to attend a friendly interview with an ASRB scientist in the affiliated research centre closest to your home. Details of your medical history will be recorded, and some simple tests to assess memory, attention and general functioning.

2. The Blood Sample

A small blood sample will be taken, from which your DNA profile will be made. Such profies of all 4,000 participants in the ASRB program will provide vital clues to the origins of schizophrenia.

3. The Brain Scan

You will be invited to visit a nearby MRI centre for a brain scan. This interesting process takes about 30 minutes.

Join Today

To join the ASRB you need to either:

Be someone with schizophrenia, or
Not have a mental illness (and have no history of mental illness in your family).

Please contact us by phoning Freecall: 1800 639 295, or by completing the on-line enrolment form below.

Please note that currently only residents of NSW, ACT, Queensland, Western Australia and Victoria can join the ASRB.

On-Line Enrolment Form

I would like to enrol	Australian Schizophrenia Research Bank (NSW, QLD, WA, VIC only)
family name:
first name:
date of birth:
address:

state:
postcode
email address:
telephone home:
telephone work:
telephone mobile:
classification:	diagnosed with schizophrenia / schizoaffective disorder diagnosed with affective disorder no history of schizophrenia
do you have any family members with schizophrenia?	Yes No if yes, how many?
what sex are you?	male female
how did you hear about these programs?	tv advertisement (station: ) radio advertisement, (station: ) internet press (e.g. newspaper) doctor / case worker family / friend other
how did you hear about these programs?
preferred method of contact	email work phone home phone mobile phone post
contact person We will try to keep in contact with you but in case we lose touch, please supply a name and contact address of a close relative or friend
name
address:

postcode:
telephone home:
telephone work:
keep informed The Schizophrenia Research Institute publishes a free quarterly newsletter.
would you like to be added to the mailing list?	Yes No

How do I get More Information?

Click here for a fact sheet or contact the ASRB toll free on 1800 639 295.