1997 — 1998 |
Garrett, Amy S |
F32Activity Code Description: To provide postdoctoral research training to individuals to broaden their scientific background and extend their potential for research in specified health-related areas. |
Memory and Emotion in Ptsd Patients and Controls @ University of California Davis
Several behavioral studies have shown that memory is often enhanced for emotional stimuli in normals. Compared to normals, patients with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) exhibit selectively enhanced recall for trauma-related material. but show deficits in recall of neutral stimuli. This suggests a functional abnormality of the emotional memory system in PTSD. Previous neuroimaging and neurobioligical studies have suggested that the amygdala, hippocampus, posterior cingulate, retrosplenial cortex, and prefrontal cortex are involved in the acquisition and retrieval of emotional episodic memory. This study uses fMRI to investigate neurofunctional differences between patients with PTSD and controls during the presentation of emotional and neutral stimuli. Subsequent recall and recognition of the stimuli will describe individual and group differences in memory performance. We hypothesize that PTSD subjects, compared to controls, will show increased amygdala and posterior cingulate cortex activation in response to threatening stimuli, but decreased hippocampus activation in response to neutral stimuli. Also, performance on the recall task will be related to the degree of activation in the amygdala and hippocampus. These studies will contribute to the understanding of how the brain enhances memory of emotional stimuli and how this memory for emotional and neutral stimuli may be altered in PTSD. These data will provide the foundation for a systematic program of clinical neuroscience research in PTSD.
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0.911 |
2011 |
Garrett, Amy S |
P41Activity Code Description: Undocumented code - click on the grant title for more information. |
Brain Activation Following Fft in Youth At Risk For Bipolar Disorder
This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. Primary support for the subproject and the subproject's principal investigator may have been provided by other sources, including other NIH sources. The Total Cost listed for the subproject likely represents the estimated amount of Center infrastructure utilized by the subproject, not direct funding provided by the NCRR grant to the subproject or subproject staff. Objective: To investigate changes in brain activation associated with family focused treatment (FFT) in adolescents at high risk for developing bipolar disorder. Background: Previous studies have found that FFT is effective in stabilizing symptoms of mania and depression in adolescent patients. This treatment may also be associated with changes in the function of brain regions associated with emotional responses. Methods: Ten subjects with a family history of bipolar disorder and current subsyndromal symptoms completed scans at baseline and after 12 weeks of treatment (either treatment as usual or FFT). Functional magnetic resonance imaging scans were acquired using a spiral pulse sequence at 3T, while subjects viewed fearful and neutral faces. Whole brain data were processed in SPM5. Clusters of activation that changed significantly from baseline to follow-up were identified using a repeated measures ANOVA, and a dual threshold of p=.01, extent = 80. Mean activation in clusters that fell in a priori hypothesized regions was extracted. Due to the small sample size, all subjects were included in a single group, regardless of treatment condition. To read about other projects ongoing at the Lucas Center, please visit http://rsl.stanford.edu/ (Lucas Annual Report and ISMRM 2011 Abstracts)
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0.958 |
2013 — 2015 |
Garrett, Amy S |
K01Activity Code Description: For support of a scientist, committed to research, in need of both advanced research training and additional experience. |
Brain Biomarkers of Clinical Response to Cognitive Treatment of Ptsd in Youth
DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This application will combine the neuroimaging expertise of the investigator with new knowledge of clinical trials methodology and treatment processes. The goal is to produce a unique skill set, ideal for leading interdisciplinary teams of clinicians and basic scientists in studies of brain changes associated with treatment of pediatric trauma-related disorders. The proposed research study will apply this training. We will investigate changes in brain function associated with cognitive behavioral therapy for abused youth suffering from PTSD. Each mentor will provide a specific training component needed for the project. Dr. Stewart Agras, an established leader in clinical trials methodology, will provide in-depth knowledge of the intricacies of conducting high quality clinical trials, and a knowledge base of treatment processes. Dr. Victor Carrion, an expert in pediatric PTSD, will provide understanding of assessment, recruitment, and retention of pediatric PTSD samples. Dr. Carrion also will directly oversee the treatment arm of the research study. Dr. Judith Cohen, co-creator of the treatment used in our study (trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy) will provide a practical understanding of treatment: Dr. Garrett will follow each treatment case during Dr. Cohen's weekly consultations with therapists. Dr. Cohen also will provide guidance on important issues in leading clinical research, including collaborating with multidisciplinary partners, ethical issues, and flexible implementation of treatment fidelity. Dr. Kiki Chang has joined the mentoring team in order to provide a model of a successful neuroimaging treatment study exemplified by his ongoing R01 project. Also, Dr. Garrett will learn about clinical assessment by undergoing in Dr. Chang's established protocol for KSADS reliability training, and attending his mentored diagnostic meetings. Dr. Allan Reiss will ensure excellence in neuroimaging analysis and interpretation, Dr. Booil Jo will provide statistical consultation, and Dr. Greg Siegle will provide guidance in leading CBT treatment-related neuroimaging studies based on his leadership in this field. With the assistance of this comprehensive mentoring team, the proposed research project will provide novel information about the mediators (potential mechanisms) of recovery from PTSD and contribute to the literature on abnormal brain function in pediatric PTSD. In the revised application, we have moved the site of the study to Stanford University, to allow mentors to provide direct ongoing clinical research guidance. Youths will be scanned before and after the 12 week treatment. Analyses will identify treatment-related changes in activation in brain regions implicated in PTSD: the amygdala, hippocampus, and medial prefrontal cortex- and test the associations between changes in activation and improvements in symptoms. Test/retest reliability of fMRI measures will be investigated in a matched control sample scanned at the same interval, and functional connectivity will be analyzed. This study is feasible given the considerable expertise in neuroimaging already established by the applicant, the direct supervision of treatment by mentors, and the support provided by Stanford's clinical research setting. This study will establish Dr. Garrett as an independent scientist in the field of neuroimaging treatment studies in youths with PTSD, and lead to an R01 application that expands and probes the clinical utility of the findings.
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0.958 |