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Department of Psychiatry

Department of Psychology
 

Behavioral Immunology and Endocrinology Lab

Current Research Funding

Our early studies and more recent studies have led to a number of projects that involve psychiatric and medical populations.  One example includes the impact of psychiatric disorders on regulation of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis during social challenges or diurnal variation in release of cortisol as measured in saliva.  We have developed a novel and compact means for collecting saliva for these samples that is well suited to field studies and minimally invasive.  This resulted in collaborations with the Space Program at NASA to investigate the potential for salivary cortisol to serve as a biomarker of stress in the astronauts during training and flight missions.  However an overarching goal is to determine how the HPA axis responds before treatment and whether it is predictive of treatment outcome and long term prognosis in patients with psychiatric disorders.  Patient populations presently under investigation include:

  • Traumatized groups (both early and adult traumas)
  • Medical patients with serous illnesses such as cancer and their caregivers
  • Adolescents with chronic illnesses (asthma/allergy)
  • Adolescent populations with affective(anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder) and eating disorders
  • Children with genetic risk factors (fragile X, autism, ADHD, Williams syndrome)
  • Adolescents with substance use disorders
  • At risk infants hospitalized in neonatal intensive care units.

Noninvasive studies of early development and the role of the quality of the early mother-infant relationship in nonhuman primates still remains an important research area of the laboratory.  Interactions between polymorphisms of genes controlling neurotransmitter activity such as the serotonergic and dopaminergic systems and the early maternal relationship and their effects on impulsivity in novel situations, social interactions, and regulation of the HPA are a particular interest in socially living macaque monkeys.  Regulation of the HPA during social challenges in transgenic mice representing a potential model of fragile x is also underway. 

PSYCHOEDUCATION FOR BMT CAREGIVERS: BIOBEHAVIORAL MARKERS AND OUTCOME

Funding Agency:

National Cancer Institute
Grant Title and Number:

PSYCHOEDUCATION FOR BMT CAREGIVERS: BIOBEHAVIORAL MARKERS AND OUTCOME
#1R01CA126971-01A1
Principal Investigator:

Laudenslager, Mark PhD
Co-Investigators:

Simoneau, Teri PhD
Kilbourn, Kristin PhD, MPH
Mikulich-Gilbertson, Susan PhD
Abstract:
    The National Cancer Institute is particularly concerned about cancer survivorship in which the caregiver is viewed as an integral component of the patient's recovery process. The number of adult caregivers exceeded 5.9 million in 2000, affecting over 22.4 million households in the US. Although caregivers may reduce medical care costs of the patient, the impact on the caregiver is substantial leading to lost work, financial burden, and increased medical and mental health problems. There is an extensive literature on the impact of caregiving on psychological well being, immune regulation, and neuroendocrine balance. Perturbations in these basic homeostatic processes have long term health consequences for the caregivers. Caregivers of patients receiving allogeneic blood and marrow transplants (BMT) are faced with a stressful experience marked by uncertainly and the likelihood of iatrogenic illness in the patient such as graft versus host disease associated with BMT. Approval for an allogeneic BMT requires the presence of a 24 hour caregiver for at least 100 days and quite often longer. Although a number of interventions have targeted the cancer patient, there have been few that have focused on the caregiver cancer patients and even fewer that have followed biomarkers in association with these interventions. Stress management and psychoeducation has been demonstrated as useful when dependent variables include behavioral markers. However many intervention studies have used convenience samples, failed to randomize treatments, did not include control groups for comparison purposes, or omitted biomarkers. The present study proposes a randomized control trial with intent to treat of BMT patient caregivers assigned to either treatment as usual or individualized stress management psychoeducation that includes a biofeedback device for training paced respiration which also tracks compliance. Dependent measures include caregiver and patient health, immune and endocrine markers, sleep characteristics via actimetry, and behavioral assessments of stress, depression, anxiety, and burden. This unique stress management psychoeducation intervention is expected to have positive effects on biomarkers of caregiver physical and psychological health including sleep, immune markers (natural cytotoxicity and Type 1 and 2 cytokine balance), and endocrine markers (diurnal variations in salivary cortisol and DHEA) compared to treatment as usual. This intervention focuses on needs of caregivers raised by the Surgeon General's Rx for caregivers at fundamental levels by 1) addressing issues around depression and anxiety, 2) identifying sources of support within the community for the caregivers, 3) focusing on the role of the caregiver's own health in their care of the patient, 4) sensitizing the caregivers to their stress and its effects on them, 5) teaching the caregiver about the illness their loved one is experiencing, and 6) providing stress management tools. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVENCE. In a nation where three out of every four American families will have at least one member diagnosed with cancer, "survivorship" according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) includes both the patient and those who support them. Caregivers are a distressed group which has become the focus of the NCI as well as the Office of the Surgeon General. Caregivers of blood and marrow transplant (BMT) patients are a particularly distressed group since their care is required 24/7 for the first 100 days following transplantation. The present study will test using a randomized control design, the impact of a stress management psychoeducation program versus treatment as usual on the physical and mental health of BMT caregivers since caregiver health is crucial to the long term prognosis in BMT patients as well.

Project Period:  06/01/2008 – 04/30/2013 

EARLY EXPERIENCE AND LOW 5-HT MARKERS IN ALCOHOL ABUSE

Funding Agency:

NIAAA
Grant Title and Number:

EARLY EXPERIENCE AND LOW 5-HT MARKERS IN ALCOHOL ABUSE 
#R01 AA013973
Principal Investigator:

Laudenslager, Mark PhD
Abstract:

The major goals of this project are to elucidate the relationship between the quality of early maternal care and the polymorphism in the serotonin transporter protein and adolescent impulsive and aggressive behavior and voluntary alcohol consumption.

Project Period:  07/06/2004 – 05/31/2009  

Professional Personnel:

Thomas Startz
Rachel Grzywa
Crystal Natvig

A TELEPHONE INTERVENTION FOR CAREGIVERS OF HOSPICE PATIENTS

Funding Agency:

American Cancer Society (Pilot and exploratory projects)
Grant Title and Number:

A TELEPHONE INTERVENTION FOR CAREGIVERS OF HOSPICE PATIENTS
#3

Principal Investigator:

Kilbourn, Kristin PhD
Co-Investigator:

Laudenslager, Mark PhD
Abstract:

This is a study of a telephone counseling intervention to improve psychosocial functioning and quality of life among caregivers of cancer patients in home-based hospice care.  Outcome measures include psychosocial and physiological measures.

Project Period:  06/01/2007 – 05/31/2009  

ATTENTIONAL DYSFUNCTION IN FRAGILE X SYNDROME

Funding Agency:

NICHD
Grant Title and Number:

ATTENTIONAL DYSFUNCTION IN FRAGILE X SYNDROME
#1R01 047029
Principal Investigator:

MacLean, Kenneth PhD
Co-Investigator:

Laudenslager, Mark PhD
Abstract:

This project uses a mouse model of fragile X syndrome to investigate how sensory abnormalities, HPA axis dysregulation and executive function deficits contribute to the poor attention seen in this disorder.

Project Period:  08/01/2003 – 07/31/2008

COUPLES AND CANCER: BUILDING PARTNER EFFICACY IN CARING

Funding Agency:

National Cancer Institute
Grant Title and Number:

COUPLES AND CANCER: BUILDING PARTNER EFFICACY IN CARING 
#Phase 2 SBIR CA10360601

Principal Investigator:

Collinge, William PhD
Co-Investigator:

Laudenslager, Mark PhD
Abstract:

    This is for the development of a novel video instructional tape for a massage intervention for cancer patients. The outcome variables include diurnal variation in salivary cortisol and DHEA.

    Project Period:  09/01/2007 – 08/31/2008

DEVELOPMENT OF MALADAPTIVE BEHAVIOR

Funding Agency:

NIMH
Grant Title and Number:

DEVELOPMENT OF MALADAPTIVE BEHAVIOR
#2T32MH015442

Principal Investigator/Director:

Ross, Randal MD
Scientific Director:

Laudenslager, Mark PhD
Abstract:

This is long standing postdoctoral training program in developmental psychobiology.

www.dprgpostdoc.org

Project Period:  07/01/2006 – 06/30/2011

TRAINING MEDICAL STUDENTS TO BECOME RESEARCH CHILD PSYCHIATRISTS

Funding Agency:

NIMH
Grant Title and Number:

TRAINING MEDICAL STUDENTS TO BECOME RESEARCH CHILD PSYCHIATRISTS
#R25
Principal Investigator/Director:

Ross, Randal MD
Scientific Director:

Laudenslager, Mark PhD
Abstract:

This is a training program aimed at medical students to provide them with specific research and learning experiences relevant to the Medical Scholars Program.

www.psychiatryscholars.org

Project Period:  09/01/2007 – 08/31/2012