Category: Research Publications

Nasal esketamine is a rapid-acting intervention for depression. This study investigated the brain’s electrical activity following the receipt of nasal esketamine.

This trial investigated a single-session therapy session of behavioral activation for the treatment of mild and moderate alcohol use disorder. Behavioral activation is an action-oriented psychotherapy that uses reinforcement of client value-based, substance-free activities.

We analyzed longitudinal sleep/wake data from over 2,000 emergency department patients—both with and without GFAP-confirmed TBI—to determine how timing and duration of data collection impact classification performance. Using a deep learning model, we found that the first 7 days post-injury provided the most informative window for distinguishing TBI-positive (GFAP >...

We investigated associations between pre-trauma insomnia symptoms and post-trauma substance use among 2449 participants presenting to emergency departments after trauma exposure. Our results suggested that pre-trauma insomnia symptoms predicted post-trauma heavy alcohol and cannabis use, as well as binge drinking. For heavy alcohol and cannabis use, posttraumatic stress symptom severity...

In the immediate aftermath of trauma exposure, individuals may experience an acute stress reaction (ASR), an intense response that adversely impacts emotional, cognitive, somatic and behavioral functioning. ASRs may resolve quickly but for individuals operating in high-stakes occupations, these reactions can potentially endanger themselves and those around them. Using data...

Using a large-scale longitudinal observational emergency department (ED)-based study of individuals with recent trauma exposure, we conducted random-intercept cross-lagged panel models to test whether sex differences exist in the temporal relationships between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and alcohol use over six months (assessed at five time points timepoints: ED...

Traumatic stress exposures (TSE) are common in life. While most individuals recover following a TSE, a substantial subset develop adverse posttraumatic neuropsychiatric sequelae such as chronic posttraumatic musculoskeletal pain (CPMP). Vulnerability factors for CPMP are poorly understood, which hinders identification of high-risk individuals for targeted interventions. One known vulnerability factor...

We developed an explainable deep learning model that uses brain imaging data to uncover how cognitive states emerge from complex brain dynamics. By modeling the brain as a controllable system, our approach offers new insights into how brain function supports behavior.

These results highlight a novel role of a unique set of neurons within a brain region known as the extended amygdala that signal escape behavior in response to an aversive stimulus. This, in combination with our previous findings that these same neurons encode arousal responses, supports a neurobiological relationship of...

This study compared three tools for assessing bullying in autistic and ADHD youth and found variable patterns of prevalence and vulnerability between approaches. A disability-specific measure identified more nuanced patterns of victimization, underscoring the importance of using tailored and valid assessments in these populations.