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About the Study

Why is This Research Being Done?

The purpose of this study is to determine if adding metformin to a healthy lifestyle program would help children and teens control weight gain caused by certain medications.

This study involves children and teens ages 8-19 years who are overweight with certain mood disorders and who may start or are currently taking a second-generation antipsychotic.  Weight gain is a significant concern in this patient population.  See recent survey results for more information.

Research Study Facts

This study is being conducted by the University of Cincinnati in collaboration with Northwell Health and Cincinnati Childrens' Hospital Medical Center. This study is being funded by PCORI (Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute; Award # PCS-1406-19276). Approximately 1800 youth will be taking part in this study at 24 public and private mental health practices in the Greater Cincinnati and New York City regions. Study length for each patient is 2 years.

See the Study Promotional Flyer

See a TV segment about the study with a patient story (1 of 2)

See a TV segment about the study with a patient story (2 of 2; starts at 23:07 in video)

Recent analysis of telepsychiatry in MOBILITY

MOBILITY TEACH 

We are excited to tell you about a voluntary, new research study called MOBILITY TEACH (Telemedicine Enhanced Access during COVID-19 to Healthcare).

All children, adolescents, and their caregivers who are enrolled in MOBILITY are invited to participate in MOBILITY TEACH.  This is totally separate from MOBILITY and will not impact your participation in MOBILITY at all.

The purpose of MOBILITY TEACH is to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted how you receive care from your mental health providers.  We also are interested in how your schooling may have changed due to COVID-19.

Children, adolescents, and their caregivers will be asked to complete a brief telephone interview and online survey with a member of the MOBILITY TEACH research team 2 times over 6 months.  This will be a different and separate survey from MOBILITY. The first visit will take about 45 minutes. About 6 months later children/adolescents and their caregivers will be asked to complete another brief telephone interview and online survey. The second visit will take approximately 30 minutes.

Caregivers and children/adolescents will each be given a $20 gift card to pay you for your time in completing these visits. There is no cost to participate. Participation in this research study is voluntary. You are free to not participate or withdraw at any time for any reason.

A member of the MOBILITY TEACH team will be reaching out to you to see if you are interested in participating.

If you have any questions or would like to participate, please reach out to the MOBILITY TEACH Team based on your location:

For patients who see their MOBILITY mental health provider in Ohio, Texas, or California, please contact Alique Topalian, PhD, MPH by Phone/Text: 513-549-1265 or Email: topaliag@ucmail.uc.edu

For patients who see their MOBILITY mental health provider in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Maryland, or Minnesota, please contact Monica Arora, MHA by Phone/Text: 516-218-1968 or Email: marora2@northwell.edu

Bipolar Disorder

What is Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar Disorders are common mental illnesses defined by periods of mania and depression. With mania, or high moods, people may have high energy, excitement, irritability and sleeplessness. With depression, or low moods, people can experience sadness, anxiety and hopelessness.

Research studies suggest that these disorders most commonly begin during adolescence. Youth with Bipolar Disorders have poorer work and school functioning and poorer quality of life when compared to others who develop the illness later in life.

For more information please visit:

Bipolar Child

Study Interventions

Metformin

Metformin is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of type II diabetes in youth 10 years of age and up. Metformin also decreases food intake in obese, non-diabetic individuals. Metformin is well tolerated and safe in youth.  But like any drug, it has side effects. Some of the side effects are diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting, but these side effects usually decrease over time.

Metformin has previously been studied for reducing weight in youth treated with second generation antipsychotics, a common treatment for bipolar spectrum disorders. These studies suggest metformin treatment is possibly associated with lower weight.

More Information on Metformin
More Information on Metformin (Spanish)

Lifestyle Program

All patients enrolled in this study receive a healthy lifestyle program. This program gives recommendations about healthy eating and physical activity. Healthy lifestyle programs designed for youth may lead to weight loss in youth who struggle with weight control.

The healthy eating plan divides food into three categories: Green, Yellow and Red foods, like a traffic light. Healthy (Green) foods should be eaten regularly and high calorie (Red) foods should be eaten rarely. The physical activity plan includes a variety of moderate exercises with clear instructions and pictures. Watch the video below or follow the links for plan details.

VIDEO - Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Plan

Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Plan
Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Plan (Spanish)

For more information on healthy lifestyles please visit:
Cincinnati Children's Health Works

Participating Sites

Cincinnati/Western Region

  • Butler Behavioral Health Services
  • Central Clinic
  • Child Focus
  • The Children’s Home of Cincinnati
  • Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
  • Nationwide Children's Hospital (Columbus, OH)
  • NECCO
  • Ohio State University Medical Center (Columbus, OH)
  • Samaritan Behavioral Health (Dayton, OH)
  • South Community (Dayton, OH)
  • St. Aloysius Orphanage
  • St. Joseph Orphanage
  • Stanford University (Stanford, CA)
  • Talbert House
  • TCN Family Solutions (Dayton, OH)
  • University of Cincinnati
  • University Hospital (Cleveland, OH)
  • University of Minnesota (Minneapolis, MN)
  • University of Texas (Austin, TX)

Map and Contact Info of all Western sites

 

New York/Eastern Region

  • The Child Center of New York
  • Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (Philadelphia, PA)
  • Graham Windham
  • Jersey Shore University Medical Center (Neptune, NJ)
  • Maimonides Medical Center
  • Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston, MA)
  • Mount Sinai Health System
  • Nassau University Medical Center
  • New York City Children's Center
  • North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center
  • NYU Medical Center
  • Sheppard Pratt (Baltimore, MD)
  • South Oaks Hospital
  • SUNY Downstate/Kings County Hospital Center
  • University of Rochester (Rochester, NY)
  • Zucker Hillside Hospital

Map and Contact Info of all Eastern sites

Partners

Northwell

Contact Us

Or send us an e-mail at mobilitystudy@uc.edu