Threat-Reward Interactions in Post-Trauma Psychopathology (TRIPP)
Funded by the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation (BBRF)
Two major components of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms are heightened emotional responses to threat and diminished ability to experience positive emotions in response to positive or rewarding experiences. The way in which the brain systems underlying threat and reward processing interact and influence one another to result in these emotional disturbances in PTSD is currently unknown.
The goal of this study is to understand how neurocircuitry function underlying threat and reward processing is impacted by the development of PTSD and how these functional changes relate to PTSD symptoms of hypervigilance to threat and diminished experience of positive emotions.
For this study we are currently looking for individuals who:
- experienced a trauma (e.g. assault, combat, car crash, etc.)
- are either mentally healthy OR are experiencing mental health difficulties (e.g. difficulty feeling happy, anxiety, etc.)
- are 21-50 years old, English-speaking, and right handed
- are NOT taking daily psychiatric medication and are NOT in regular psychotherapy
- are NOT current regular daily nicotine/tobacco users
And want to participate in a paid research study involving brain scans in an MRI machine!
Individuals can be compensated up to $175 and can receive free images of their brain!
If you are interested please contact us at fonzolab@austin.utexas.edu or you can complete the initial screening form:
Initial Screening Form for TRIPP study
We will then contact you via e-mail and inform you of your potential eligibility.
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One Mind Study
Funded by the 2020 One Mind–Baszucki Brain Research Fund Rising Star Research Award
Affective disorders–such as depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and anxiety disorders–are some of the most prevalent and debilitating mental health conditions. All are characterized by prominent symptoms of exaggerated negative emotions and mood states, which are known to be critically tied to the function of a brain region known as the amygdala. A promising new method to non-invasively modulate brain function, known as focused ultrasound, has recently emerged as a cutting-edge technique to target deep brain structures (such as the amygdala) which are not otherwise reachable by standard technologies currently in clinical use. Using low intensity, high-frequency sound waves to reach these brain areas, it may be possible to directly shift brain function to alleviate exaggerated negative emotions and mood states in individuals currently suffering from an affective disorder.
The goal of this study is to develop focused ultrasound into a new therapeutic tool for the treatment of affective disorders.
For this study we are currently looking for individuals who:
- are between the ages of 18 and 65
- Have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, an anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, or depression, OR do not have and have not been diagnosed with a mental health disorder and would like to be part of the mentally healthy control group
- are fluent in English
- are willing to undergo focused ultrasound and MRI procedures
- can visit the laboratory several times over the course of 2 to 6 weeks
If you are interested in more information, please contact us! Control group individuals can earn up to $275, and those with a mental health diagnosis can earn up to $725 for participation in the study. Those eligible to participate in the MRI portion can receive free images of their brain!
If you are interested please contact us at fonzolab@austin.utexas.edu or you can complete the initial screening form:
Initial Screening Form for One Mind study
We will then contact you via e-mail and inform you of your potential eligibility.
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Re-EMBARC Study
Funded by the National Institute of Mental Health
Major depressive disorder (MDD), characterized by sustained negative mood, is the leading cause of ill health and disability worldwide, with a lifetime prevalence of more than 20%. Although significant progress has been made in understanding the disease and developing treatments, much is still unknown about the pathophysiology of the disease, and rates of recurrence remain high. So far, antidepressants have been the treatment mainstay for MDD. However, studies have indicated that medication treatment can be successful for a particular patient subgroup and unsuccessful in another subgroup labeled with an identical diagnosis. Thus, it is a critical time to transform the one-size-fits-all treatment into personalized medicine that aims to tailor treatment to the individual characteristics of each patient. Exploring informative signatures from neuroimaging may help identify treatment-predictive heterogeneity to sharpen the search for treatment targets, thereby reducing the need for multiple drug trials and expediting remission.
The overall objective of this proposal is to establish treatment-predictive brain biomarkers to help with treatment selection for personalized medicine.
For this study we are currently looking for individuals who:
- are between the ages of 18 and 65
- have been diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder, have experienced major depression, AND/OR are currently having symptoms of depression
- are fluent in English
- are willing to undergo MRI and EEG procedures
- are willing to take an FDA-approved, once-daily medication for treating depression
- can visit the laboratory several times over the course of 8 to 10 weeks
If you are interested in more information, please contact us! Individuals can earn up to $550 for participation in the study. Those eligible to participate in the MRI portion can receive free images of their brain!
If you are interested please contact us at fonzolab@austin.utexas.edu or you can complete the initial screening form:
Initial Screening Form for Re-EMBARC study Please use the referral code: SERT
We will then contact you via e-mail and inform you of your potential eligibility.