Although most individuals are resilient or recover rapidly in the aftermath of disasters or mass violence incidents, such events are associated with elevated risk of a wide range of mental and physical health-related reactions, including posttraumatic stress, panic, depression, generalized anxiety, and substance use problems. It is therefore important that disaster victims have access to safe, effective services to address-or reduce risk for the development of-disaster-related mental and physical health-risk problems. The potential value of effective, widely deliverable, and cost-efficient early interventions is considerable. However, few evidence-based early interventions have been developed, and only a small number has undergone rigorous scientific evaluation. Little is known about strategies that might be helpful within the general population broadly exposed to a disaster or mass violence incident. Recently, our research team was funded by NIDA to develop and explore the feasibility of a Web-delivered, education-based intervention designed to reduce risk for prevalent emotional and health-risk consequences in the aftermath of disasters. The intervention was piloted two years after the September 11th terrorist attacks with 325 participants who lived in the New York City area at the time of the attacks. Results were promising and supported the need for further development and evaluation. The primary purposes of the proposed project are to (a) refine and update existing modules that address symptoms of depression, PTSD, panic, and extreme worry, based on recent research and feasibility study data; (b) enhance the technical aspects of the intervention; (c) develop thorough evaluation mechanisms; and (d) conduct a population-based pilot study with baseline and six-month follow-up assessment to examine the preliminary efficacy of the intervention. Also, in preparation for future evaluation of the intervention in the early aftermath of a disaster (should the population-based pilot study yield promising data), this project would allow us to refine the innovative study design that integrates randomized controlled trial methodology with longitudinal epidemiological approaches to recruitment and assessment. Our proposed strategy to target a wide range of symptom presentations, as well as both subthreshold and diagnostic levels, is consistent with public health recommendations based on findings indicating benefits in terms of reduced health costs and greater positive outcomes associated with early intervention. ? ? ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Planning Grant (R34)
Project #
5R34MH077149-02
Application #
7454394
Study Section
Interventions Committee for Adult Mood and Anxiety Disorders (ITMA)
Program Officer
Tuma, Farris K
Project Start
2007-06-22
Project End
2010-05-31
Budget Start
2008-06-01
Budget End
2009-05-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2008
Total Cost
$225,474
Indirect Cost
Name
Medical University of South Carolina
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
183710748
City
Charleston
State
SC
Country
United States
Zip Code
29425
Davidson, Tatiana M; Soltis, Kathryn; Albia, Christina MinHee et al. (2015) Providers' perspectives regarding the development of a web-based depression intervention for Latina/o youth. Psychol Serv 12:37-48
Paul, Lisa A; Price, Matthew; Gros, Daniel F et al. (2014) The associations between loss and posttraumatic stress and depressive symptoms followingHurricane Ike. J Clin Psychol 70:322-32
Price, Matthew; Davidson, Tatiana M; Andrews, Jeannette O et al. (2013) Access, use and completion of a brief disaster mental health intervention among Hispanics, African-Americans and Whites affected by Hurricane Ike. J Telemed Telecare 19:70-4
West, Jenny S; Price, Matthew; Gros, Kirstin Stauffacher et al. (2013) Community support as a moderator of postdisaster mental health symptoms in urban and nonurban communities. Disaster Med Public Health Prep 7:443-51
Davidson, Tatiana M; Price, Matthew; McCauley, Jenna L et al. (2013) Disaster impact across cultural groups: comparison of Whites, African Americans, and Latinos. Am J Community Psychol 52:97-105
Price, Matthew; Gros, Daniel F; McCauley, Jenna L et al. (2012) Nonuse and dropout attrition for a web-based mental health intervention delivered in a post-disaster context. Psychiatry 75:267-84
Ruggiero, Kenneth J; Resnick, Heidi S; Paul, Lisa A et al. (2012) Randomized controlled trial of an internet-based intervention using random-digit-dial recruitment: the Disaster Recovery Web project. Contemp Clin Trials 33:237-46
Ruggiero, Kenneth J; Gros, Kirstin; McCauley, Jenna L et al. (2012) Mental health outcomes among adults in Galveston and Chambers counties after Hurricane Ike. Disaster Med Public Health Prep 6:26-32
Ruggiero, Kenneth J; Gros, Daniel F; McCauley, Jenna et al. (2011) Rural adults' use of health-related information online: data from a 2006 National Online Health Survey. Telemed J E Health 17:329-34
Amstadter, Ananda B; Broman-Fulks, Joshua; Zinzow, Heidi et al. (2009) Internet-based interventions for traumatic stress-related mental health problems: a review and suggestion for future research. Clin Psychol Rev 29:410-20

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