The aim of the proposed This Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (MRSDA) is to train the candidate in affective neuroscience and adolescent development relevant to understanding the role of positive emotionality, a potential endophenotype, in the development of depression in youth. Understanding the role of endophenotypes is critical for identifying those at greatest risk for depression. Although a number of studies demonstrate that positive emotionality is implicated in depression and risk for depression, few have examined reward-related brain function in the service of conducting critical tests of endophenotypes for depression. Adolescence is a particularly important point in the lifespan to address this issue because it is the peak time of onset for depression. The candidate has expertise in assessing positive emotionality using behavioral and self- report methods, early childhood development in offspring of depressed parents, youth depression, and longitudinal data analysis. He seeks to build on this expertise through this MRSDA to (1) learn from expert mentors and consultants about functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) approaches to investigating adolescent brain development, reward-related brain function, and pathophysiology of depression;(2) complete coursework in affective neuroscience, fMRI, data analysis, and research ethics;(3) attend workshops on fMRI and neuroimaging data analysis;and (4) conduct a study examining critical tests of positive emotionality, operationalized as reward-related brain functioning, as an endophenotype for depression. The University of Pittsburgh is a phenomenal environment to pursue this training as it has extensive resources in the areas of affective neuroscience, adolescent development, and adolescent depression. The candidate's mentors, Drs. Erika Forbes and Jennifer Silk, have extensive expertise in affect-related brain functioning in depression, adolescent development, and adolescent depression. The proposed training will occur in the context of a longitudinal study examining: (1) differences in reward-related brain functioning between non-depressed adolescents of parents with (N = 45) and without (N = 30) a history of depression;(2) the prospective relationship between reward-related brain functioning and depressive symptoms over an eighteen month period;and (3) prediction of the development of depressive symptoms prospectively predicted by reward- related brain functioning and self-report measures of positive emotionality. This will provide evidence for the comparative utility of each approach of identifying those at risk for depression. Consistent with the priorities outlined by the National Institute of Mental Health, the proposed MRSDA has the potential to address mechanisms of risk through investigating behavioral and biological processes. Further, the combination of training and research will serve as a spring board for the candidate's independent research career to further elucidate the role of positive emotionality in the development of depression during adolescence.

Public Health Relevance

Adolescent depression is a common disorder that results in significant morbidity (suicide) and disability. Identifying and understanding brain mechanisms of risk are crucial to effectively preventing and treating depression. It is hoped that the present work will lead to reduced impact and rates of adolescent depression in the community.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Scientist Development Award - Research & Training (K01)
Project #
5K01MH092603-02
Application #
8197153
Study Section
Psychosocial Development, Risk and Prevention Study Section (PDRP)
Program Officer
Sarampote, Christopher S
Project Start
2010-12-01
Project End
2015-11-30
Budget Start
2011-12-01
Budget End
2012-11-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$141,837
Indirect Cost
$10,418
Name
University of Pittsburgh
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
004514360
City
Pittsburgh
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
15213
Olino, Thomas M; McMakin, Dana L; Forbes, Erika E (2018) Toward an Empirical Multidimensional Structure of Anhedonia, Reward Sensitivity, and Positive Emotionality: An Exploratory Factor Analytic Study. Assessment 25:679-690
Kotelnikova, Yuliya; Olino, Thomas M; Klein, Daniel N et al. (2017) Higher and Lower Order Factor Analyses of the Temperament in Middle Childhood Questionnaire. Assessment 24:1050-1061
Olino, Thomas M (2016) Future Research Directions in the Positive Valence Systems: Measurement, Development, and Implications for Youth Unipolar Depression. J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol 45:681-705
Wolk, Courtney Benjamin; Carper, Matthew M; Kendall, Philip C et al. (2016) Pathways to anxiety-depression comorbidity: A longitudinal examination of childhood anxiety disorders. Depress Anxiety 33:978-986
Pagliaccio, David; Luking, Katherine R; Anokhin, Andrey P et al. (2016) Revising the BIS/BAS Scale to study development: Measurement invariance and normative effects of age and sex from childhood through adulthood. Psychol Assess 28:429-42
Alloy, Lauren B; Olino, Thomas; Freed, Rachel D et al. (2016) Role of Reward Sensitivity and Processing in Major Depressive and Bipolar Spectrum Disorders. Behav Ther 47:600-621
Olino, Thomas M; Horton, Leslie E; Versella, Mark V (2016) A comparison of psychometric and convergent validity for social anhedonia and social closeness. Psychol Assess 28:1465-1474
Olino, Thomas M; McMakin, Dana L; Nicely, Terri A et al. (2016) Maternal Depression, Parenting, and Youth Depressive Symptoms: Mediation and Moderation in a Short-Term Longitudinal Study. J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol 45:279-90
Kotelnikova, Yuliya; Olino, Thomas M; Klein, Daniel N et al. (2016) Higher- and lower-order factor analyses of the Children's Behavior Questionnaire in early and middle childhood. Psychol Assess 28:92-108
Spielberg, Jeffrey M; Forbes, Erika E; Ladouceur, Cecile D et al. (2015) Pubertal testosterone influences threat-related amygdala-orbitofrontal cortex coupling. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 10:408-15

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