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Research News & Publications

Current and past research & publication news highlights from the Department Newsletter.

 
 

April 2022

March 2022

February 2022

January 2022

October 2021

September 2021

June 2021

July 2021

April 2021

Mark Oldham, MD, Wilfred Pigeon, PhD, Benjamin Chapman, PhD, Michael Yurcheshen, MD, Peter Knight, MD, and Hochang Benjamin Lee, MD published a feasibility research study on how baseline sleep predicts delirium after surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). The research findings include that home type II sleep before SAVR works as a predictor to postoperative delirium and other kinds of postsurgical impacts.

  • Oldham, M. A., Pigeon, W. R., Chapman, B., Yurcheshen, M., Knight, P. A., & Lee, H. B. (2021). Baseline sleep as a predictor of delirium after surgical aortic valve replacement: A feasibility study. General Hospital Psychiatry, 71, 43–46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2021.04.005 

In this American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry commentary, Kim van Orden, PhD assessed the psychological impacts of loneliness caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on older adults, as well as provided potential protective factors looking forward.

Susan McDaniel, PhD led this study in Patient Education and Counseling looking at empathy and boundary management in challenging conversations between clinicians and patients receiving cancer treatment. Diane Morse, MD was also a coauthor on this paper.

  • McDaniel, S. H., Morse, D. S., Edwardsen, E. A., Taupin, A., Gurnsey, M. G., Griggs, J. J., Shields, C. G., & Reis, S. (2021). Empathy and boundary turbulence in cancer communication. Patient Education and Counseling, 104(12), 2944–2951. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2021.04.002 

Sean Mitchell, PhD, Tuğba Görgülü, PhD, Kenneth Conner, PhD, and Marc Swogger, PhD joined Sarah Brown, PhD of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine to conduct cross-sectional analyses of the public health implications of criminal justice involvement, substance use, and suicide behaviors in high-risk individuals.

Thomas O'Connor, PhD and Ana Vallejo Sefair, Clinical Psychology Doctoral Intern at URMC, recently were authors in a chapter of Prenatal Stress and Child Development. They discussed models of how prenatal stress may affect child health outcomes.

  • O’Conner, T. G., & Sefair, A. V. (2021). Prenatal Stress and Child Development: Immune Models and Mechanisms. In A. Wazana, E. Székely, & T. F. Oberland (Eds.), Prenatal Stress and Child Development (1st ed. 2021 ed., pp. 131–164). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-60159-1_7

Anton Porsteinsson, MD was a coauthor on a paper in a leading journal on dementia, Alzheimers & Dementia, listing and expanding on new diagnostic criteria for apathy in neurocognitive disorders.

February 2021

Anthony Pisani, PhD, Wendi Cross, PhD, Jennifer West, PhD, Hugh Crean, PhD, and Eric Caine, MD published an article analyzing video-based suicide prevention training in primary care, focusing on the effectiveness and implementation in the workspace, and how training may be improved.

  • Pisani, A. R., Cross, W. F., West, J. C., Crean, H. F., & Caine, E. D. (2021). Brief Video-Based Suicide Prevention Training for Primary Care. Family Medicine, 53(2), 104–110. https://doi.org/10.22454/fammed.2021.367209 

Ian Rockett, PhD and Eric Caine, MD were among the authors on this study examining national trends of suicide rates and self-injury mortality (SIM) rates, which include suicides and accidental fatalities from drug self-intoxication.

  • Rockett, I. R., Caine, E. D., Banerjee, A., Ali, B., Miller, T., Connery, H. S., Lulla, V. O., Nolte, K. B., Larkin, G. L., Stack, S., Hendricks, B., McHugh, R. K., White, F. M., Greenfield, S. F., Bohnert, A. S., Cossman, J. S., D’Onofrio, G., Nelson, L. S., Nestadt, P. S., . . . Jia, H. (2021). Fatal self-injury in the United States, 1999–2018: Unmasking a national mental health crisis. EClinicalMedicine, 32, 100741. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2021.100741 

Catherine Cerulli, PhD led this paper published with University of Rochester Department of Psychology and University of Minnesota faculty members discussing the creation of the Translational Research that Adapts New Science FOR Maltreatment Prevention Center for research and intervention. Sheree Toth, PhD was also a coauthor on this paper.

  • Cerulli, C., Cicchetti, D., Handley, E., Manly, J., Rogosch, F., & Toth, S. (2021). Transforming the paradigm of child welfare. Development and Psychopathology, 33(2), 377-393. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579420002138 

COVID-19 has had a profound effect on mental health- amplifying feelings of fear, anger, and sadness. In this Mayo Clinic Proceedings publication, Mark Oldham, MD, Andrianna Hitchins, MD, and Mark Nickels, MD discuss strategies for clinicians to mitigate the effects of trauma.

Yezhe Lin, MD and Paul Geha, MD were coauthors on this preliminary study in Molecular Pain looking at the effects of long-term opioid analgesic treatment on brain structure and function in patients with chronic back pain.

  • Murray, K., Lin, Y., Makary, M. M., Whang, P. G., & Geha, P. (2021). Brain Structure and Function of Chronic Low Back Pain Patients on Long-Term Opioid Analgesic Treatment: A Preliminary Study. Molecular Pain, 17, 174480692199093. https://doi.org/10.1177/1744806921990938 

Several Department of Psychiatry faculty members, alongside Martha Bruce, PhD of the Geisel School of Medicine, published a paper in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry synthesizing research discussed during a workshop hosted by the National Institute of Mental Health on social disconnection and late-life suicide.

  • Lutz, J., van Orden, K. A., Bruce, M. L., & Conwell, Y. (2021). Social Disconnection in Late Life Suicide: An NIMH Workshop on State of the Research in Identifying Mechanisms, Treatment Targets, and Interventions. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 29(8), 731–744. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jagp.2021.01.137 

Kenneth Conner, PsyD, MPH, Benjamin Chapman, PhD, MPH and Yeates Conwell, MD published this paper developing a checklist to assess the quality of psychological autopsy studies, which assess risk factors for suicide. The checklist combined items from a previously validated checklist with new items and displayed high inter-rater reliability.

  • Conner, K. R., Chapman, B. P., Beautrais, A. L., Brent, D. A., Bridge, J. A., Conwell, Y., Falter, T., Holbrook, A., & Schneider, B. (2021). Introducing the Psychological Autopsy Methodology Checklist. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 51(4), 673–683. https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.12738 

Wilfred Pigeon, PhD was a coauthor on a publication in Life Sciences assessing strategies used by veterans to manage Gulf War Illness, and their perceptions of how successful they are. Many of the self-management strategies that were effective were also consistent with clinical practice guidelines.

  • Winograd, D. M., Sullivan, N. L., Thien, S. R., Pigeon, W. R., Litke, D. R., Helmer, D. A., Rath, J. F., Lu, S. E., & McAndrew, L. M. (2021). Veterans with Gulf War Illness perceptions of management strategies. Life Sciences, 279, 119219. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119219 

In the past 15 years, there has been an increased focus on oculomics in schizophrenia research. Steven Silverstein, PhD, and Brian Keane, PhD join Philip Corlett, PhD of Yale University in a discussion of the reasons for this increase and its implications on schizophrenia research.

January 2021

Robert Weisman, DO, Gretchen Foley, URMC and Joseph Richard Ciccone, MD published a book chapter in The Wiley International Handbook on Psychopathic Disorders and the Law, 2nd Edition discussing competence to stand trial and psychopathic disorders.

  • Weisman, R.L., Foley, G.N. and Ciccone, J.R. (2020). Competence to Stand Trial and Psychopathic Disorders. In The Wiley International Handbook on Psychopathic Disorders and the Law (eds A.R. Felthous and H. Saß). https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119159322.ch56 

This study from several members of Psychiatry examined the effects of a brief version of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia. Decreases in both insomnia and co-occurring depression were observed over the first two sessions.

  • Todd M. Bishop, Hugh F. Crean, Jennifer S. Funderburk & Wilfred R. Pigeon (2021) Initial Session Effects of Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia: A Secondary Analysis of A Small Randomized Pilot Trial, Behavioral Sleep Medicine, 19:6, 769-782, DOI: 10.1080/15402002.2020.1862847 

Adam Simning, MD, PhD and Yeates Conwell, PhD were coauthors on this paper published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society looking at care-partner support and its effects on hospitalization in individuals in assisted living.

  • Wang, J., Ying, M., Temkin-Greener, H., Caprio, T.V., Yu, F., Simning, A., Conwell, Y. and Li, Y. (2021), Care-Partner Support and Hospitalization in Assisted Living During Transitional Home Health Care. J Am Geriatr Soc, 69: 1231-1239. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.17005 

Wilfred Pigeon, PhD was a coauthor on a Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice article looking at relationships between atopic dermatitis and sleep disorders, methods for assessment and therapies.

  • Peoples, A. R., Pigeon, W. R., Li, D., Garland, S. N., Perlis, M. L., Inglis, J. E., Vinciguerra, V., Anderson, T., Evans, L. S., Wade, J. L., Ossip, D. J., Morrow, G. R., & Wolf, J. R. (2021). Association Between Pretreatment Sleep Disturbance and Radiation Therapy-Induced Pain in 573 Women With Breast Cancer. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 61(2), 254–261. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2020.07.041 

Erinn Duprey, PhD led a study in Child Abuse and Neglect examining the relationship between child maltreatment, recent stressful life events, and suicide ideation through a stress sensitivity hypothesis.

  • Duprey, E. B., Handley, E. D., Manly, J. T., Cicchetti, D., & Toth, S. L. (2021). Child maltreatment, recent stressful life events, and suicide ideation: A test of the stress sensitivity hypothesis. Child Abuse & Neglect, 113, 104926. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104926 

Thomas Gift, MD led a study in Journal of Psychiatric Research on the psychometrics, clinical utility and implications of the Wender Utah Rating Scale for ADHD.

  • Gift, T. E., Reimherr, M. L., Marchant, B. K., Steans, T. A., & Reimherr, F. W. (2021). Wender Utah Rating Scale: Psychometrics, clinical utility and implications regarding the elements of ADHD. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 135, 181–188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.01.013 

Jennifer Funderburk, PhD and Wilfred Pigeon, PhD published a paper in the Journal of Affective Disorders examining the effectiveness of a brief version of behavioral activation designed for primary care at reducing symptoms of depression in veterans. BA-PC was associated with reduced depressive symptoms and improved mental health and quality of life.

  • Funderburk, J. S., Pigeon, W. R., Shepardson, R. L., Wade, M., Acker, J., Fivecoat, H., Wray, L. O., & Maisto, S. A. (2021). Treating depressive symptoms among veterans in primary care: A multi-site RCT of brief behavioral activation. Journal of Affective Disorders, 283, 11–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.01.033  

Mark Nickels, MD was a coauthor on this study with colleagues from the University of Rochester Medical Center Departments of Internal Medicine & Cardiology as well as Eastman School of Music on the potential of musical improvisation to decrease negative thoughts and distress of labile hypertension.

  • Corbett, J. A., Nickels, M. W., Azzara, C. D., & Bisognano, J. D. (2021). Brief report: Musical improvisation skills can combat labile hypertension. Current Research in Behavioral Sciences, 2, 100016. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crbeha.2021.100016  

Thomas O'Connor, PhD was a coauthor on this paper examining the association between breastfeeding and children's neurodevelopment while accounting for the effects of prenatal depression.

  • Amiel Castro, R., Glover, V., Ehlert, U. et al. Breastfeeding, prenatal depression and children’s IQ and behaviour: a test of a moderation model. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 21, 62 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-020-03520-8

Elizabeth Karras, PhD led a study examining factors that contribute to failed suicide prevention messaging among veterans. During interviews with veterans, participants identified barriers to effective suicide prevention messaging such as language, images, and communication strategies.

Wilfred Pigeon, PhD was a coauthor on this study examining the association between sleep disturbances and radiation therapy induced pain in breast cancer patients. Results showed that patients who experienced sleep disturbances before radiation treatment experienced more pain after radiation treatment.

  • Peoples, A. R., Pigeon, W. R., Li, D., Garland, S. N., Perlis, M. L., Inglis, J. E., Vinciguerra, V., Anderson, T., Evans, L. S., Wade, J. L., Ossip, D. J., Morrow, G. R., & Wolf, J. R. (2021). Association Between Pretreatment Sleep Disturbance and Radiation Therapy-Induced Pain in 573 Women With Breast Cancer. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 61(2), 254–261. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2020.07.041

Elizabeth Karras, PhD was a coauthor on this paper evaluating veterans' opinions about discussing firearms storage safety (FSS) during primary care visits. Participants in this study supported the discussion of FSS during primary care visits but advised primary care staff to provide rationale for FSS discussions.

  • Dobscha, S.K., Clark, K.D., Newell, S. et al. Strategies for Discussing Firearms Storage Safety in Primary Care: Veteran Perspectives. J GEN INTERN MED 36, 1492–1502 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-020-06412-x 

Marc Swogger, Ph.D. co-authored a study on the relationship between kratom initiation and regular consumption of illicit drugs and HIV risk behaviors in Malaysia.

  • Saref, A., Suraya, S., Singh, D., Grundmann, O., Narayanan, S., Swogger, M. T., ... & Balasingam, V. (2020). Self-report data on regular consumption of illicit drugs and HIV risk behaviors after kratom (Mitragyna Speciosa Korth.) initiation among illicit drug users in Malaysia. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs52(2), 138-144. doi:10.1080/02791072.2019.1686553 

Eric Caine, M.D. published a commentary in Epidemiology and Psychiatric Services on building the foundation for comprehensive suicide prevention and social--ecological challenges that must be confronted to create systematic strategies.

  • Caine, E. (2020). Building the foundation for comprehensive suicide prevention – based on intention and planning in a social–ecological context. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 29, E69. doi:10.1017/S2045796019000659

Mark Oldham, M.D., Hochang Ben Lee, M.D., and Khushminder Chahal, M.D. published an article about proactive consultation-liaison psychiatry in Psychiatric Times. Daniel Maeng, Ph.D., Ann Cornell, Psy.D., and George Nasra, M.D., M.B.A. were featured in the Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine for their study on the impact of employer-sponsored behavioral health programs on depression and anxiety in employees. Several Department of Psychiatry members including Ellen Poleshuck, PhD, Marsha Wittink, M.D., M.B.E., Iwona Juskiewicz, and Catherine Cerulli, J.D., Ph.D, published in The Journal of Women's Health a study evaluating two interventions aimed at addressing unmet social needs in the context of women's health care delivery. Michael Hasselberg, M.S., Ph.D. was featured in The Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association for his discussion manuscript on the evolution of technology-enabled healthcare and Rochester's digital behavioral healthcare model. The American Psychological Association featured Mark Oldham, MD and his study in General Hospital Psychiatry on how proactive consultation-liaison psychiatry, screening and integrated mental health care delivery can help reduce patients' average length of stay. Psychiatric Services featured as an editor's choice a study led by Wendi Cross, Ph.D. exploring trainer competence as a predictor of crisis counselors' behaviors with callers. Co-authors included Karen Schmeelk-Cone, Ph.D. and Anthony Pisani, Ph.D. Newsweek featured a study led by Anton Porsteinsson, M.D. on the potential of aducanumab as a new drug treatment for Alzheimer's Disease.

  • Maeng, D., Cornell, A. E., & Nasra, G. S. (2019). Utilization of an employee behavioral health program and its effects on outcomes for depression and anxiety disorders. Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, 61(10), 812–817. https://doi.org/10.1097/jom.0000000000001678 
  • Poleshuck, E., Wittink, M., Crean, H. F., Juskiewicz, I., Bell, E., Harrington, A., & Cerulli, C. (2020). A comparative effectiveness trial of two patient-centered interventions for women with unmet social needs: Personalized support for progress and enhanced screening and Referral. Journal of Women's Health, 29(2), 242–252. https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2018.7640 
  • Hasselberg, M. J. (2019). The Digital Revolution in Behavioral Health. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 26(1), 102–111. https://doi.org/10.1177/1078390319879750 
  • Oldham, M. A., Chahal, K., & Lee, H. B. (2019). A systematic review of proactive psychiatric consultation on hospital length of stay. General Hospital Psychiatry, 60, 120–126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2019.08.001 
  • Cross, W. F., Chen, T., Schmeelk-Cone, K., Tu, X., Kleinman, M., & Gould, M. S. (2017). Trainer fidelity as a predictor of crisis counselors’ behaviors with callers who express suicidal thoughts. Psychiatric services, 68(10), 1083-1087. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201600417