Clinical Research Directory

Examining Effects of a Therapeutic Focus on Positive Memories on Post-Trauma Health

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has devastating health consequences. Evidence-based PTSD interventions address the substantial burden of PTSD on the health of individuals and societies; however, several individuals receiving these interventions drop out and not all individuals experience improvement in PTSD symptoms. Moreover, these current PTSD interventions primarily target trauma memories. Notably, growing evidence suggests that PTSD symptoms are related to difficulties in the encoding and retrieving of positive memories as well. Thus, the proposed study will examine effects of and targets underlying a novel PTSD technique focused on narrating and detailing positive memories - Processing of Positive Memories Technique (PPMT). Methodologically, 70 individuals will be randomly assigned to PPMT vs. Supportive Counseling (SC) for this study. The aims of the proposed study include (1) examining PPMT's effects on PTSD symptom severity and stress systems' dysregulation (i.e., awakening salivary alpha amylase \[sAA\] and cortisol); (2) examining mechanisms underlying PPMT's effects; and (3) refining PPMT. It is hypothesized that the PPMT arm will report greater decreases in PTSD severity and sAA/cortisol ratios. Further, it is hypothesized that PPMT-related improved affect will mediate the association between study arm (PPMT vs. SC) and changes in PTSD severity. Lastly, feedback will be obtained from study participants on PPMT's feasibility, format, and content to refine PPMT. The proposed study may contribute preliminary evidence on the potential significance of targeting positive memories in PTSD interventions.

Effect of Preksha Meditation on Cognitive Abilities and Pulmonary Function in Students

The goal of this project is to assess impact of an 8 week course of Preksha Meditation (combination of Green color and buzzing sound meditation), in a group of college students to assess potential benefits to their pulmonary function, cognitive ability (immediate recall, attention), and happiness.

Y Yoga Works: Effects of Acute Yoga on Anxiety, Affect, & Cognition

The goal of this research is to determine what components of an integrated yoga practice that influence anxiety, cognition, and affect among highly anxious college females. Participants will go through four sessions and will experience all parts of a yoga practice.

Healing Hearts of Hospitalized Patients

The study aims to evaluate the impact of a bedside-delivered virtual reality (VR) mindfulness experience on well-being and psychosocial outcomes among hospitalized adult patients compared to standard of care (SOC; no added mindfulness intervention).

Effects of Multi-day Interruptions in Sitting on Type 2 Diabetes-relevant Outcomes in Children

The overall objective of this in-lab randomized controlled trial is to test the efficacy of multi-day interruptions in sedentary behavior vs. single bouts of sustained exercise on metabolic, cognitive, affective, and cardiac autonomic nervous system responses in children with overweight and obesity who are at risk for type 2 diabetes. The use of continuous glucose monitoring will provide insight into the daily and cumulative metabolic effects of each condition that have thus far not been studied. In-lab studies demonstrating sustained efficacy of this approach in ameliorating negative effects of sedentary behaviors in children are necessary for the optimization of field-based interventions. Given the lack of success of interventions to prevent obesity-related diseases and increasing rates of type 2 diabetes in children and its related healthcare costs, this study addresses a critical public health need by testing of novel intervention strategies to reduce obesity-related diseases in children with overweight and obesity.

Trauma-adapted Yoga in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.

The goal of this randomized clinical trial is to evaluate the efficacy of trauma-adapted yoga as a complementary intervention to care as usual in child and adolescents psychiatry clinics, in the population of adolescents with the diagnosis of ADHD and/or PTSD. We hypothesize that trauma-adapted yoga (TAY) is an effective non-pharmacological intervention for adolescent with ADHD and/or PTSD. Aims: (1) Validate the impact of TAY on the mental health \& quality of life of adolescents with ADHD and/or PTSD. (2) Investigate the feasibility of online TAY for continued self-care. (3) Explore adolescents' experiences \& parental perspectives on TAY in their treatment. (4) Explore healthcare professionals' experience on the integration of TAY into clinical practice. Within and between group (yoga group vs waiting list) analyses will be performed.