LIFE
PTSD affects approximately 8% of the general population in the United States. Our own and others' work has demonstrated that PTSD is a strong risk factor for poor physical functioning and chronic diseases. Despite its high prevalence and serious health consequences, current treatments remain inadequate. Elevated inflammatory activity is increasingly recognized as an important treatment target in psychiatric disorders because of its strong effects on brain function and its ability to produce symptoms resembling psychiatric conditions. Emerging evidence suggests that acute inflammation may play a role in maintaining or exacerbating PTSD symptoms, underscoring the need for a deeper understanding of inflammatory mechanisms to inform and improve future interventions.
The LIFE study seeks to disambiguate the effects of immune activity on emotions, experiences, and bodily responses in people with and without PTSD.
The LIFE study is not currently recruiting participants.
CIP (COVID-19 in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder)
The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically altered the fabric of our society, and its impacts have been felt in nearly every sphere of life. Some of the more tangible effects of the pandemic, such as stay-at-home orders, widespread unemployment, and loss of life have been well documented. However, we do not know how these events will impact mental health in the short and longer term.
The CIP study seeks to examine the psychological and behavioral impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic over time. Through this longitudinal, observational, online survey study, the investigators will explore the mental health impact of the pandemic.
The CIP study is not recruiting participants.
SMART (Studying the Modification of Attention bias Remotely after Trauma)
The SMART study is testing a smartphone, app-based intervention that has the potential to reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress. The app delivers a form of cognitive training that is completed in short, daily activity sessions. The ultimate goal of the SMART study is to create an effective app-based intervention that can be easily accessed and disseminated to people with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or symptoms of PTSD.
To find out more about the SMART study, please visit our study website.
Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy
If you are interested in taking part in research on psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, please visit the Translational Psychedelic Research (TrPR) Program website.
We are actively recruiting participants for several studies.