the iBerry Study 2.0 - Research in social, psychological and physical development in youth

In August 2014 the iBerry Study started the first phase of a longitudinal study
in the development of psychiatric disorders, in cooperation with the Dutch
Centre for Youth and Family in the Rijnmond region (MEC-2014-416). In high
school, adolescents aged 12 to 14 years were screened on emotional and
behavioral problems as part of standard preventive youth healthcare. In the
second phase of the iBerry Study selected participants were invited for their
first visit at the research center as part of the iBerry Study baseline
measurement (MEC-2015-007). The current study is the first follow-up and takes
place two to three years after baseline. The objective of the first follow-up
is to further identify key factors in transition of sub-threshold symptoms to
psychiatric disorders.

The iBerry Study has two main study objectives:
1. Describing long-term prognosis of sub-threshold symptoms in terms of course
(transition to several psychiatric disorders, chronicity, recurrence,
co-morbidity) and public health consequences (disability, costst)
2. Examining genetic, biological and psychosocial determinants of the
transition from sub-threshold symptoms to psychiatric disorders

The iBerry Study is designed as a prospective observational study.

Assessments of participating adolescents consists of questionnaires,
interviews, physical examination, respectively measurement of length, weight,
skin fold, actigraphy, AGE-reader (advanced glycation end products),
QST-measurement (quantitative sensory testing), venapuncture and collection of
hair. All measurements are done child friendly under supervision of
professionals. The total time load of the visit is no more than three hours.
The actigraphy has an additional time load of 1,5 hour divided over 9 days (10
minutes per day)
Assessment in participating parents consists of questionnaires, interviews,
physical examination, respectively measurement of length, weight, skin fold,
AGE-reader (advanced glycation end products), QST-measurement (quantitative
sensory testing), venapuncture and collection of hair. The total time load of
the visit will take no more than three hours.
Participants in the iBerry Study 2.0 do not directly benefit from
participation, apart from a small gratification (giftcard t.t.v.o. 35 euros in
participation of all assessments). Participation may lead to early detection of
serious psychiatric conditions, for which effective treatment is available. If
a participant is diagnosed with a serious psychiatric condition with possible
dangers for themselves or others, they will be informed and advised to see
their general practitioner and request referral for mental health care
specialists.