Bipolar disorder is a severe mood disorder with high morbidity and mortality. Despite adequate treatment, patients continue to have recurrent mood episodes, residual symptoms, and functional impairment. Although the etiology of bipolar disorder remains uncertain, multiple studies examining neuroimaging, peripheral markers, and genetics have provided important insights into the pathophysiologic processes underlying bipolar disorder. The pathophysiology of bipolar disorder includes several systemic alterations, such as inflammatory markers, oxidative stress, and DNA damage. Most of these parameters may be related to dysfunctions in cellular resilience mechanisms reported in patients, such as endoplasmic reticulum stress and mitochondrial damage. As consequence, these impairments can ultimately lead to cell death.

We invite investigators to contribute original research as well as review articles that will stimulate the continuing efforts to understand the molecular pathophysiology underlying bipolar disorder, the development of innovative strategies to treat this condition, and the evaluation of outcomes.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Cellular in vitro studies
• Neural plasticity
• Animal models
• Genetics
• Biomarkers
• Neuroimaging
• Diagnostics
• Suicide
• Innovative treatments
• ECT, TMS, and other therapeutic interventions
• Clinical staging
• Neuroprogression
• Psychoeducation