Research Program

• Experimental Psychopathology
  Not everyone experiences a traumatic event such as car accident, sexual assault, or natural disaster in the same way.  While some may recover over time, others may experience symptoms months and even years after the traumatic event.  Indeed, individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often report involuntary retrieval of horrific memories, including intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, and nightmares. 
  
  This clinical presentation strongly suggests that memory abnormalities underlie many of the symptoms.  Researchers believe that disrupted encoding and retrieval processes may reduce optimal recall of the traumatic event and may mediate posttrauma adjustment.  By understanding these processes, we hope to learn more about the mechanisms underlying both therapeutic and natural recovery. 
  
  Current Studies:  Psych 499 positions available

  • Source monitoring deficits

  • Retrieval inhibition

  • Emotional numbing

  How do I participate?  Call (206) 685-3617

• Treatment Outcome Research
  Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a chronic and debilitating condition, with a lifetime prevalence rate of 35.6% for woman who have experienced criminal victimization (Resnick et al. 1993). Thus, the development of efficacious and cost-effective treatments for PTSD becomes imperative. Both prolonged exposure therapy and sertraline (Zoloft) are of established efficacy for PTSD. Yet, we do not know whether these efficacy studies have external validity nor what factors influence treatment acceptance/refusal and completion/drop-out.
  
  Current Studies:  Psych 499 positions available

  • Treatment effectiveness of Prolonged Exposure and sertraline for Chronic PTSD

  • Factors influencing choice of treatment

  • Psychotherapy side effects

  How do I participate?  Call (206) 685-3617