In this application for a Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K-23), the candidate proposes to develop expertise in the study of emotion regulation among elders with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). The research component of this application focuses on the effectiveness of two conscious emotion regulation strategies - reappraisal and distraction - in modulating positive and negative affect in individuals age 65+with or without MDD. Effectiveness will be assessed using both behavioral and neuroimaging experimental techniques. The candidate training plan involves focused, mentored training aimed at integrating: 1) The study of emotion regulation;2) Etiology, symptoms, and course of late-life MDD;3) Neurocognitive contributions to emotion regulation;and 4) The use of basic experimental data to inform treatment development. To establish a career as a productive and independent investigator with a specialty in the mechanisms of emotion regulation in late-life MDD, the applicant is seeking support to obtain training in the disciplines listed above. This proposal is based on the hypothesis that despite neurologically-based changes in emotion regulation abilities associated with both normal aging and MDD, structured training in emotion regulation techniques can help to ameliorate negative affect associated with external and internal stressors in this population. Building upon the training outlined in this award proposal, the candidate will undertake a set of behavioral and fMRI-based studies to investigate both the neural mechanisms underlying emotion regulation as well as the effectiveness of specific emotion regulation strategies in older adults with MDD. A follow-up study will examine the relationship between emotion regulation abilities and both cognitive and symptom status one year after testing. This translational research program will extend existing knowledge by innovatively integrating work in basic emotions, geriatrics, and psychopathology. In addition to helping establish the candidate's career in the study of emotion regulation in affective disorders, this line of research has the potential to inform improved and novel interventions for late-life MDD.

Public Health Relevance

MDD is a costly and burdensome condition that affects a significant proportion of elders. The series of proposed studies will shed light on ways that depressed older adults can manage their negative emotions. The findings of these studies may lead to the future development of psychotherapeutic interventions targeting mood symptoms in late-life MDD.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23)
Project #
5K23MH087754-05
Application #
8432492
Study Section
National Institute on Aging Initial Review Group (NIA)
Program Officer
Chavez, Mark
Project Start
2009-05-08
Project End
2014-02-28
Budget Start
2013-03-01
Budget End
2014-02-28
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$137,159
Indirect Cost
$10,640
Name
Duke University
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
044387793
City
Durham
State
NC
Country
United States
Zip Code
27705
Smoski, Moria J; Keng, Shian-Ling; Ji, Jie Lisa et al. (2015) Neural indicators of emotion regulation via acceptance vs reappraisal in remitted major depressive disorder. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 10:1187-94
Crowther, Andrew; Smoski, Moria J; Minkel, Jared et al. (2015) Resting-state connectivity predictors of response to psychotherapy in major depressive disorder. Neuropsychopharmacology 40:1659-73
Greeson, Jeffrey M; Smoski, Moria J; Suarez, Edward C et al. (2015) Decreased symptoms of depression after mindfulness-based stress reduction: potential moderating effects of religiosity, spirituality, trait mindfulness, sex, and age. J Altern Complement Med 21:166-74
Smoski, Moria J; LaBar, Kevin S; Steffens, David C (2014) Relative effectiveness of reappraisal and distraction in regulating emotion in late-life depression. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 22:898-907
Schiller, Crystal Edler; Minkel, Jared; Smoski, Moria J et al. (2013) Remitted major depression is characterized by reduced prefrontal cortex reactivity to reward loss. J Affect Disord 151:756-62
Smoski, Moria J; Keng, Shian-Ling; Schiller, Crystal Edler et al. (2013) Neural mechanisms of cognitive reappraisal in remitted major depressive disorder. J Affect Disord 151:171-7
Paul, Natalie A; Stanton, Steven J; Greeson, Jeffrey M et al. (2013) Psychological and neural mechanisms of trait mindfulness in reducing depression vulnerability. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 8:56-64
Wang, Lihong; Paul, Natalie; Stanton, Steve J et al. (2013) Loss of sustained activity in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex in response to repeated stress in individuals with early-life emotional abuse: implications for depression vulnerability. Front Psychol 4:320
Keng, Shian-Ling; Robins, Clive J; Smoski, Moria J et al. (2013) Reappraisal and mindfulness: a comparison of subjective effects and cognitive costs. Behav Res Ther 51:899-904
Felder, Jennifer N; Smoski, Moria J; Kozink, Rachel V et al. (2012) Neural mechanisms of subclinical depressive symptoms in women: a pilot functional brain imaging study. BMC Psychiatry 12:152

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