The HELIOS BD 2 study is looking for healthy adults to take part in research. 

It's part of a larger project which aims to examine if people with bipolar disorder have an increased sensitivity to light, and whether lithium (a medication commonly used to treat the condition) might act to reduce this light sensitivity.

Who can take part?

In this part of the study, researchers are exploring whether lithium leads to a reduction in light sensitivity in healthy adults. We are looking for people who are:

  • Aged between 18 and 40 years old
  • Fluent in English (both spoken and written)
  • Sleeping for between 6.5 and 9 hours daily, on a regular normal sleep schedule with bedtime (weekdays) between 9:30pm and 1am
  • A BMI (body mass index) between 18 and 30 kg/m2
  • Currently registered with a general practitioner

(Female participants will need to use effective contraception or refrain from engaging in sexual activity that could result in pregnancy during participation in the study.)

You cannot take part in this story if you are affected by any of the following:

  • History of psychiatric or neurological disorders
  • First-degree family history of psychosis or severe mood disorder 
  • Current or past suicidal ideation or self-harm
  • Current chronic infections or diseases
  • Life-threatening allergies, specifically nut allergy
  • Known visual disorders e.g. colour blindness, glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy
  • Known medical conditions that could affect the conduct of the study including
    • sleep disorders
    • cancer
    • diabetes
    • anaemia
    • epilepsy
    • psoriasis
    • severe eczema
    • thyroid disorders
    • kidney disease
    • migraines
  • Other than oral contraceptives, taking any long-term or regular medications including
    • antidepressants
    • diuretics (water-tablets)
    • pain killers
    • anti-inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen)
    • medications for high blood pressure)
  • Have donated blood in the past 1 month
  • Regular or recent recreational drug use
  • Chronic alcohol addiction/misuse
  • Known contraindication to magnetic resonance imaging such as pacemaker or metal implants, recent surgery, severe claustrophobia, and/or recent head or neck tattoos
  • A current smoker (including use of cigarettes, vapes, and/or cigars)
  • Planning to travel across time zones at any point in time during the conduct of the study or have travelled across time zones within 1 month prior to enrolment.
  • Currently work night shifts
  • Been a shift worker in the past 3 months
  • Current enrolment in any other interventional research studies
  • Enrolment in any other interventional studies in the 1 month prior to the start of participation in this study

What does taking part involve?

In the first part of the study, you will not take any lithium tablets and will go about your day-to-day activity as per normal.

In the second part of the study, you will be asked to take lithium tablets for a 1-week period.

At the end of each of these two segments, you will attend the Northumbria Sleep Research Laboratory in a private bedroom for a two-night stay.

Eligible participants may also be asked to undergo a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan.

(You may receive up to £1,282 for taking part in this study.)

Click here for a detailed explanation of what taking part will involve

Interested in taking part?

If you would like to take part, or want more information, please email
heliosbd2@northumbria.ac.uk or call / text 07885 498 318.