Research from Dr. Nick Obradovich and colleagues evaluating the effects of climate change on the expression of positive and negative emotions is part of news feature article published today in a Nature News Feature focused on the rise of eco-anxiety (a chronic fear of environmental doom) resulting from devastating weather-related events such as hurricanes, droughts, floods and fires. Highlighted in an associated Nature Editorial, Dr. Obradovich has also been involved in working to develop global mental-health indicators that can be linked to weather and climate data, as part of the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change, that will contribute to efforts to better evaluate and effectively reduce the effect of climate change's mental health burden.
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Dr. Paul Holtzheimer - April 2, 2024
"Mechanosensitive Potassium Channels in Nerves: Molecular Mechanisms, Disease Relevance, and Potential Targets for Neuromodulation" William K. Warren, Jr. Frontiers in Neuroscience Lecture 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Program in the LPCH auditorium Dr. Steve Brohawn is an Associate Professor at the University of California, Berkeley in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and the Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute. Research in his laboratory is focused on understanding the molecular basis of sensory transduction and electrical signaling in the nervous system. To this end, the lab uses a combination of cryo-electron microscopy and electrophysiology to investigate the structure and function of membrane protein ion channels and transporters. Prior to starting his laboratory in 2016, Dr. Brohawn was a Helen Hay Whitney Postdoctoral Fellow in Dr. Rod MacKinnon’s lab at the Rockefeller University from 2010 to 2015 where he studied ion channels that sense mechanical force. Steve received his PhD in Biology in 2010 from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he worked with Dr. Thomas Schwartz on the structure and function of the nuclear pore complex. He received his B.S. from the University of Delaware in 2004 where he worked with Dr. Colin Thorpe on the enzymology of oxidative protein folding. Work in his lab has been recognized with a NIH New Innovator Award, a New York Stem Cell Neuroscience Investigator Award, a Sloan Research Fellowship, a McKnight Neuroscience Scholar Award, and a Klingenstein-Simons Research Fellowship. Learning objectives:
Saint Francis Health System designates this live activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. For Psychologists: The Oklahoma State Board of Examiners of Psychologists, the American Psychological Association and the Oklahoma Psychological Association recognize AMA PRA Category 1 credit™. Saint Francis Health System is accredited by the OSMA For Social Workers: An application has been sent to the Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Social Workers for 1 hour Category 1 Clinical. For CADCs and LADCs Saint Francis Health System is accredited as a provider of continuing education programs for CADCs and LADCs through the Oklahoma Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors. (1 hour) The LPC/LMFT This event as been approved by the State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure (BBHL) for 1 hour of CE. For questions , email: Lauren Haguewood at lehaguewood@saintfrancis.com In 2023, LIBR investigators published over 120 peer-reviewed research articles. In conjunction with the release of our annual report, we asked each principal investigator to weigh-in on their lab's highlights over the past year. Here's a snapshot of some of the outstanding accomplishments:
Robin Aupperle The NeuroCATT lab received an R34 award from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) in collaboration with Dr. Charles Taylor at the University of California San Diego and Dr. Kate Wolitzky-Taylor at the University of California Los Angeles. The grant will fund work furthering the development of an intervention focused on amplification of the positive valence system and reducing alcohol use (AMP-A) for individuals with alcohol use disorder and symptoms of anxiety or depression. The first phase of the project involved collecting input from substance use providers and prior participants concerning the intervention and piloting the treatment with eight individuals. This will lead into a randomized clinical trial comparing the novel intervention with a more traditional cognitive-behavioral therapy intervention. Chun-Chieh Fan Dr. Fan was invited to moderate a panel on the genomic analysis of the human brain data at the American Society of Human Genetics held in Washington, D.C, published a special issue on genetic data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study in Behavior Genetics and was invited to give a workshop on geospatial dat analysis at the BERTHA summer school in Denmark. Salvador Guinjoan Dr. Guinjoan’s lab completed the recruitment of 20 persons who suffer from major depression and varying degrees of rumination intensity, and expect to complete recruitment of 10 persons who are healthy and will serve as a comparison group for the low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) pilot study targeting white matter tracts in the anterior limb of the internal capsule in the right brain hemisphere. The lab observed consistent target engagement with this method in a preliminary analysis, and a trend towards resulting clinical effects. This was the first time that white matter tract functional modulation had been demonstrated with a noninvasive method such as LIFU, which before was only possible with costly, invasive, and risky methods involving electrode implantation or tissue ablation. This observation will allow for the testing of additional participants with the goal to make causal inferences about brain mechanisms of symptom generation in major depression and other psychiatric disorders. Maria Ironside Dr. Ironside was awarded a $2.1 million 5-year R01 grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to investigate “Processes and circuitry underlying threat sensitivity as a treatment target for comorbid anxiety and depression.” The study employs a pharmaco-fMRI approach to study threat sensitivity using a novel predator task in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), anxiety disorders (AD), and comorbid MDD and AD. The ultimate aim of this work is to establish treatment targets for comorbid MDD and AD for novel interventions and provide evidence for the separation of MDD from comorbid MDD and AD in future clinical trials. Sahib Khalsa An ingestible vibrating capsule produced reliable changes in gastric-evoked brain activity and stomach sensation in healthy individuals. This minimally invasive mechanosensory approach serves as the basis for an ongoing NIH-funded study focused on identifying abnormal gut-brain interactions in women with anorexia nervosa as well as in individuals with functional gastrointestinal disorders. Martin Paulus Many computational measures have poor psychometric properties, which could invalidate previous findings and hinder ongoing research. The Paulus lab recommended steps to address these issues and facilitate the translation of computational assays to clinical practice. As well, Individuals with MDD have lower expression of miR-93, which is associated with higher levels of certain inflammatory markers. Unlike healthy individuals, those with MDD don’t show an adaptive epigenetic regulation of a brain region (insula) involved in processing internal body signals, hinting at the molecular mechanisms that might be altering brain responsivity to these signals in MDD. Jonathan Savitz Dr. Savitz continued his work with cytomegalovirus (CMV). Drs. Haixia Zheng and Savitz published a paper in Molecular Psychiatry showing that CMV infection is associated with suicide, increased expression of inflammatory markers and microglial “activation” postmortem. As well, the Savitz lab published a Hot Topics paper on herpesviruses and psychiatric disorders in Neuropsychopharmacology. Ryan Smith Dr. Smith began data collection on a new pilot study examining computational mechanisms of breathing perception in anxiety disorders. His lab also continued to make progress on a 3-year project funded by a grant from the Well-being for Planet Earth Foundation. This project investigates neurocomputational predictors of subjective well-being. Data collection was also completed for a study examining the influence of an interoception-based anxiety induction on decision-making mechanisms associated with information-seeking and planning. Jennifer Stewart Compared to individuals with a history of major depressive disorder (MDD) and healthy controls, individuals with amphetamine use disorder 1) report greater positive and negative urgency (taking rash action when feeling good or bad); and 2) exhibit greater right hemisphere brain signals (in right anterior/middle insula, amygdala, and ventral striatum) during successful behavioral inhibition. These findings point to heightened impulsivity during emotional arousal and recruitment of more brain resources to exert inhibitory control. Wes Thompson Dr. Thompson gave a talk at the Joint Statistical Meetings on August 7, 2023, on “Annotation-Informed Polyvertex Scores for Brain-Wide Association Studies", served as the managing guest editor for a special issue of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience on novel methods for population neuroscience, and continued his efforts as Director of Biostatistics for three national consortia on longitudinal neurodevelopment: the National Consortium of Alcohol and Neurodevelopment in Adolescence (NCANDA), the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study℠, and the HEALthy Brain Child Development (HBCD) Study. Evan White LIBR received a DP1 grant for research to be conducted by Dr. White in collaboration with the Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma titled “Kipiyecipakiciipe – Coming Home: Establishing clinical cultural neuroscience as a tool for understanding the role of traditional cultural engagement in mitigating substance misuse and disorder.” Within American Indian (AI) populations, there is a disproportionate share of negative health and social consequences of substance use disorder (SUD) even after decades of awareness and research. This project aims to integrate community-based participatory research (CBPR) with neuroscience tools to examine the influence of traditional cultural engagement on resilience factors that may protect against poor mental health as well as risk for substance use. The 2023 Laureate Institute for Brain Research (LIBR) Annual Report is now available to download via the link below. The report provides an overview of last year’s happenings at LIBR, including a letter from the President and Scientific Director, Dr. Martin Paulus, information on our mission, history and specific aims, current areas of research, funding sources, events and lectures, awards, individual laboratories, select publications and opportunities to participate in research. We hope you enjoy the publication and look forward to continuing our goal to improve mental health through neuroscience in 2024 and beyond.
Dr. Paul Holtzheimer - April 2, 2024
“Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Psychiatric Disorders” William K. Warren, Jr. Frontiers in Neuroscience Lecture 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Zoom Join Zoom Meeting https://laureateinstitute-org.zoom.us/j/87343165038 Meeting ID: 873 4316 5038 Passcode: 490646 Paul Holtzheimer, MD, is the Deputy Director for Research at the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. He is Professor of Psychiatry and Surgery at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, and a staff psychiatrist at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and the White River Junction VA Medical Center. Dr. Holtzheimer’s clinical and research interests include developing better interventions for PTSD, depression and related disorders, especially for patients with treatment-resistant and comorbid illness. He has expertise in brain imaging and brain stimulation therapies (including transcranial magnetic stimulation, electroconvulsive therapy, vagus nerve stimulation, and deep brain stimulation). A primary aim of his research program is to better understand the neural circuitry of treatment-resistant psychiatric disorders and to use this information to develop and advance novel treatment approaches, with a particular emphasis on focal brain stimulation therapies. Dr. Holtzheimer is an author on over 100 publications in psychiatry, neurology, neurosurgery and neuroimaging. He has received research funding from the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Veterans Affairs and multiple non-profit foundations. He has served on the Council of the Society of Biological Psychiatry and on the Board of Directors for the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. He is a Fellow of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology. Learning objectives:
Saint Francis Health System designates this live activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. For Psychologists: The Oklahoma State Board of Examiners of Psychologists, the American Psychological Association and the Oklahoma Psychological Association recognize AMA PRA Category 1 credit™. Saint Francis Health System is accredited by the OSMA For Social Workers: An application has been sent to the Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Social Workers for 1 hour Category 1 Clinical. For CADCs and LADCs Saint Francis Health System is accredited as a provider of continuing education programs for CADCs and LADCs through the Oklahoma Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors. (1 hour) The LPC/LMFT This event as been approved by the State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure (BBHL) for 1 hour of CE. For questions , email: Lauren Haguewood at lehaguewood@saintfrancis.com Dr. Karmel Choi - March 5, 2024
Title: Data-Driven Discovery for Preventing Depression and Promoting Resilience William K. Warren, Jr. Frontiers in Neuroscience Lecture 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm CST Program in the LPCH auditorium Karmel Choi is an Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Director of the Precision Prevention Program in the MGH Center for Precision Psychiatry. Her lab leverages tools from statistical genetics, data science, and epidemiology to understand how people show resilience in the face of risk and adversity and identify strategies for preventing stress-related disorders such as depression and PTSD. She completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Duke University and clinical internship at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learning objectives:
Saint Francis Health System designates this live activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. For Psychologists: The Oklahoma State Board of Examiners of Psychologists, the American Psychological Association and the Oklahoma Psychological Association recognize AMA PRA Category 1 credit™. Saint Francis Health System is accredited by the OSMA For Social Workers: An application has been sent to the Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Social Workers for 1 hour Category 1 Clinical. For CADCs and LADCs Saint Francis Health System is accredited as a provider of continuing education programs for CADCs and LADCs through the Oklahoma Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors. (1 hour) The LPC/LMFT This event as been approved by the State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure (BBHL) for 1 hour of CE. For questions , email: Lauren Haguewood at lehaguewood@saintfrancis.com Dr. Sahib Khalsa, M.D., Ph.D., is Director of Clinical Operations for LIBR, Associate Professor at the Oxley College of Health Sciences at the University of Tulsa, Director at LIBR Float Clinic and Research Center, and Volunteer Faculty Member in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Oklahoma. Dr. Khalsa’s laboratory studies the role of the brain-body connection in human health; he has published more than 90 peer-reviewed papers and has received research funding from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Institute for General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), the NIH/National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS), the Mind and Life Foundation, and the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation. His research is currently funded by NIMH and LIBR.
Q: The Laureate Psychiatric Hospital and LIBR are known and respected for their work in the fields of identifying, treating, and researching eating disorders like anorexia nervosa; as February is focused on heart health, how does what you study relate to a healthy heart? A: Many people know about the relaxing experience of floating in water or the value of taking some time each day to pause and be away from the usual hustle and bustle of daily activities. We are currently studying the potential therapeutic impact of a particular form of Reduced Environmental Stimulation Therapy (REST) called Floatation-REST, on mental health in individuals with anxiety disorders, depression, eating disorders, or substance use disorder. Floatation-REST reduces external sensory input to the central nervous system by minimizing environmental stimulation, through the act of floating supine in a pool of water saturated with Epsom salt. In this environment, the density of the salt water allows for effortless floating. The temperature of the air and water is matched to the person’s skin temperature, and visual and auditory stimulation and movement is minimized. Our research using Floatation-REST (Paper 1) (Paper 2) has shown that it can significantly reduce blood pressure during the float session, especially the diastolic blood pressure, reduce breathing rate, and certain metrics of heart rate variability, suggesting a shift in the autonomic nervous system toward a more relaxed state. Interestingly, Floatation-REST is also associated with enhanced awareness for cardiac and respiratory sensations while reducing anxiety levels in anxious individuals, indicating a paradoxical effect. We have also recently found that Floatation-REST acutely lowers anxiety and stress symptoms and improves some aspects of body image in hospitalized individuals with anorexia nervosa. Q: How do your present studies take the next steps in studying heart health as it relates to eating disorders? A: Our ongoing studies are adding to the rigor of prior research by thoroughly characterizing the cardiovascular changes induced by Floatation-REST and examining how neural and physiological changes are associated with its anxiolytic effects. For example, in healthy individuals, we have found that Floatation-REST is associated with a reduced functional coupling of brain activity within the hubs of brain networks most responsible for creating and mapping our sense of self. We also recently found that women with anorexia nervosa show reduced brain-body network connectivity after undergoing a cardiac stress challenge; the less connected these parts of the brain were, the more anxiety, depression, and negative body image the women had. We plan to extend these studies to identify whether changes in similar brain networks helps to explain the beneficial impacts observed with Floatation-REST in individuals with eating disorders. Q: Do you need people to help you with this research project? A: We are conducting several studies looking at the role of the brain-body connection in eating disorders. When an individual receiving treatment with Laureate qualifies for ongoing research studies, they may be offered the opportunity to participate. The clinical team assists in evaluating how participation will support their recovery and whether the individual might benefit from engaging in the study. We also need volunteers not in treatment for an eating disorder to help with this research. If you or someone you know between the ages of 13-40 would like to be one of our paid volunteers, please contact our lab or fill out the form on our website. Tulsa, Okla. – As it is widely hoped that statistical models can improve decision-making related to medical treatments, and because the cost and scarcity of medical outcomes data can make testing data from patients in a different context prohibitive, researchers including Dr. Martin Paulus, Scientific Director and President at Laureate Institute for Brain Research (LIBR) in Tulsa, Okla., examined how well a machine learning model performed across several independent clinical trials of antipsychotic medicine for schizophrenia.
Researchers found models predicted patient outcomes with high accuracy within the trial in which the model was developed, but performed no better than chance when applied out-of-sample. Pooling data across trials to predict outcomes in the trial left out did not improve predictions. These results suggest that models predicting treatment outcomes in schizophrenia are highly context-dependent and may have limited generalizability. The research findings, “Illusory Generalizability of Clinical Prediction Models,” were published in the January 11, 2024 edition of Science, the weekly journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Researchers used treatment data from five international, multisite randomized controlled trials (RCTs) obtained through the YODA Project (https://yoda.yale.edu/), selected because of their comparability and consistency. All patients had a current DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia at the start of the trial, randomized patients to an antipsychotic medication or placebo, and used the same scale to measure treatment outcomes (the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, PANSS). All trials also included a four-week timepoint to measure outcomes and collected similar data about the patients at baseline. The team applied machine learning methods using baseline data to predict whether a patient would achieve clinically significant improvement in symptoms over four weeks of anti-psychotic treatment. Further, the team evaluated the applicability of machine learning models across four distinct scenarios to gain insights into their generalizability: assessing within-trial performance without any external validation; employing within-trial cross-validation; assessing out-of-sample performance in a paired-trial validation; and assessing performance through an extension of the paired-trial validation with a leave-one-trial-out approach. Results suggest that predictive models are fragile and that excellent performance in one clinical context is not a strong indicator of performance on future patients. Researchers from the team say this is “highly concerning” as most predictive studies today rely on internal samples for testing and validation. Further, researchers say the present study offers an “underwhelming but realistic picture of our current ability to develop truly useful predictive models” for schizophrenia treatment outcomes, and that “we should a priori remain skeptical” of any predictive model findings that lack an independent sample for validation. The research team included first author Dr. Adam Chekroud, adam.chekroud@yale.edu, Spring Health, Co-Founder and President, Yale University School of Medicine; Dr. Martin Paulus, mpaulus@laureateinstitute.org, Laureate Institute for Brain Research; and collaborators from University of Cologne, Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, United Partners Consulting, LLC, Yale University School of Medicine, University Augsburg, and Yale University. No funding source had any role in the study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, writing, or submission of the report. All trials were originally funded by Janssen Research and Development. # # # CONTACT: For more information about the project, contact Martin Paulus, M.D., at Laureate Institute for Brain Research at mpaulus@laureateinstitute.org. For press inquiries, contact: Aimee Tonquest Mehl, Kingmaker Public Relations at aimeemehl@sbcglobal.net. ABOUT LAUREATE INSTITUTE FOR BRAIN RESEARCH (LIBR) Launched in 2009, the Laureate Institute for Brain Research (laureateinstitute.org) is home to a multidisciplinary team of scientists and clinical research staff who apply neuroimaging, generic, pharmacological and neuropsychological tools to investigate the biology of neuropsychiatric disorders. LIBR’s creation was supported by The William K. Warren Foundation for the purpose of conducting studies aimed at developing more effective treatments and/or prevention strategies for these disorders. The studies are led by scientists from diverse backgrounds, including physics, cognitive neuroscience, psychology, psychiatry, neurology, developmental neuroscience, computer science, and genetics. Dr. Eric Garland - February 6, 2024
"Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement: Clinical Outcomes and Neurophysiological Mechanisms of an Evidence-Based Treatment for Addiction and Chronic Pain" William K. Warren, Jr. Frontiers in Neuroscience Lecture 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Program in the LPCH auditorium Dr. Eric Garland, PhD, LCSW is Distinguished Endowed Chair in Research, Distinguished Professor, and Associate Dean for Research in the University of Utah College of Social Work and Director of the Center on Mindfulness and Integrative Health Intervention Development (C-MIIND). Dr. Garland is the developer of an innovative mindfulness-based therapy founded on insights derived from neuroscience, called Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE). He has published more than 230 scientific articles and received more than $80 million in research grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Department of Defense (DOD) develop and test novel mindfulness-based treatments for addiction. In 2019 was appointed by NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins to the NIH HEAL Multi-Disciplinary Working Group comprised of national experts on pain and addiction research to help guide the nation’s $2 billion HEAL initiative to use science to halt the opioid crisis. In addition to being a clinical researcher, Dr. Garland is a licensed psychotherapist and Distinguished Fellow of the National Academies of Practice, with more than 20 years of clinical experience treating addiction. In a recent bibliometric analysis of mindfulness research published over the past 55 years, Dr. Garland was found to be the most prolific author of mindfulness research in the world. Learning objectives:
Saint Francis Health System designates this live activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. For Psychologists: The Oklahoma State Board of Examiners of Psychologists, the American Psychological Association and the Oklahoma Psychological Association recognize AMA PRA Category 1 credit™. Saint Francis Health System is accredited by the OSMA For Social Workers: An application has been sent to the Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Social Workers for 1 hour Category 1 Clinical. For CADCs and LADCs Saint Francis Health System is accredited as a provider of continuing education programs for CADCs and LADCs through the Oklahoma Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors. (1 hour) The LPC/LMFT This event as been approved by the State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure (BBHL) for 1 hour of CE. For questions , email: Lauren Haguewood at lehaguewood@saintfrancis.com Now that the initial fervor of New Year’s Resolutions has passed, you have plenty of time to consider what is most meaningful to you and develop goals that may truly fit with those values.
We talked with LIBR principal investigator Dr. Robin Aupperle about how to combat the tendency of people to abandon their January 1 resolutions—and instead use SMART goals to make lasting life changes. Q: How are SMART goals different from something like a New Year’s resolution? RA: Good question. There’s a tremendous push—internal and external—to start the New Year with a big, transformative resolution. For instance, I’ve heard resolutions like “I’m going to work out every single day this year,” “I’m going to save 50% of my salary,” or “I’m going to lose 50 pounds,” none of which are likely to be realistic. Some of these goals may also relate to what people feel they “should” do rather than necessarily being related to what is truly important for that individual. Q: Those seem lofty, but if we don’t try, we’ll never do it, right? RA: It can be very challenging to change our behaviors and ingrained habits. In order to be successful, the new behaviors have to be rewarding and reinforcing in some way. This feeling of reward can come from feeling successful and accomplished for being successful, or from engaging in something we value and enjoy. Q: What’s a better approach? RA: SMART goals offer a great framework for how to think about goal-setting. SMART is an acronym that helps identify and quantify elements of the goal you’re setting. Q: How does that work? RA: SMART stands for: S Specific What is the specific goal that someone wants to accomplish? “I want to increase my stamina and endurance so that I feel healthier.” M Measurable What data will be used to measure the goal? How will I measure it? “I will start by doing something that raises my heart rate for 20 minutes two times a week. My long-term goal will be to work towards 30 minutes, three times per week. I’ll make a calendar to chart my progress and keep myself accountable.” A Achievable Is the goal doable? Do you have the necessary skills and resources? “I will walk around my neighborhood (around the office, or at the mall) after work on Mondays and Thursdays, inviting friends to join me.” R Relevant How does this goal align with your values? Why is the result important? “I know I need to be less sedentary for my health. I want to be healthier in order to feel like I have more energy throughout my daily life and live longer.” T Time-Bound What’s the timeframe for accomplishing this goal, beginning to end? “I will focus on 20 minutes, two times a week for two months and assess my progress and modify my goals as needed.” Q: That’s a lot of work! RA: Much of this relates to all the thoughts going on in our heads when we are considering behavior change. This just provides a framework for organizing these thoughts, and making them specific. The main idea though, is that any attempts at change offer helpful information. If you aren’t successful in your first attempts, the key is to not get down on yourself! Simply consider what obstacles got in the way and how you can modify your plan to be more effective. For example, this could include starting smaller and breaking things down – for example, starting with walking around the block ONE time, ONCE per week to begin with….and then working up from there. Any amount of successful change goes a long way towards motivating further change. The University of California created this SMART goals template—it’s really good. You can use it to write your own SMART goals: Initial Goal (Write the goal you have in mind): ______________________________________________________________________________ 1. Specific (What do you want to accomplish? Who needs to be included? When do you want to do this? Why is this a goal?) ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ 2. Measurable (How can you measure progress and know if you’ve successfully met your goal?): ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ 3. Achievable (Do you have the skills required to achieve the goal? If not, can you obtain them? What is the motivation for this goal? Is the amount of effort required on par with what the goal will achieve?): ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ 4. Relevant (Why am I setting this goal now? Is it aligned with overall values?): ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ 5. Time-bound (What’s the deadline and is it realistic?): ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ S.M.A.R.T. Goal (Review what you have written, and craft a new goal statement based on what the answers to the questions above have revealed): ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Q: Do you have any SMART goals you’re working on? RA: I am working towards building strength by focusing on lifting weights when I am at the gym. My initial goal is to go twice per week for 30 minutes each time. I am going to re-assess my goals in two months to consider if I should modify my goal. This is important to me because I want to be stronger to keep up with my kids, who are very into ninja warrior right now! I also have non-health related goals, such as writing a children’s book, which I have broken down into several steps needed to work towards that goal. Dr. Aupperle has initiated research projects at LIBR investigating neurocognitive and behavioral predictors of treatment response to behavioral activation therapy for depression and exposure therapy for anxiety. In addition, she is taking the lead in LIBR projects investigating predictors of success for females enrolled in a criminal diversion program and factors related to mental health resiliency in college students. |
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