Our Research
Pre-Death Grief Projects
TX CARES-Implementing Individual Mental Health Treatment for Family Members of Individuals with Dementia
TX CARES - Care Adapt and Relief by Engaging Support: The primary aim of this study is to identify if evidence-based interventions can help reduce pre-death grief and caregiver burden in family members with some form of dementia.
Reducing Suicidal Ideation and Pre-death Grief in Older Adults Caring for Dementia Patients
The primary aim of this study is to examine the feasibility of DBT skills groups to reduce suicidal ideation and pre-death grief in family members of individuals who are caring for dementia patients.
CREATIVE MINDS-Implementing Therapeutic Interventions for Individuals with Dementia or Parkinson's Disease
The overarching goal of this project is to evaluate if therapeutic interventions can help improve neuro-cognitive functioning and physiological markers of stress among individuals with Alzheimer's Disease/Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (AD/ADRD), and Parkinson’s.
Neural Correlates of Pre-Death Grief and Psychosocial Distress in Family Members of Individuals with Dementia
The primary aim of this study is to investigate the neurobiological underpinnings of PDG, as well as examine the changes in neurobiological functioning in family members of individuals with late-stage ADRD over a 12-month period. Findings will directly inform our future development of interventions to support this population.
Non-Bereavement Grief Projects
Public Perceptions of Grief Related to Incarceration and Prison-Related Deaths
This project will assess various aspects of public stigma toward persons grieving a loss related to incarceration. We aim to understand how stigma varies by different kinds of bereavement and non-bereavement losses within the context of prison and the psychosocial factors that might be related to public stigma.
Bereavement-Related Grief Projects
Naltrexone Treatment for Prolonged Grief Disorder: A Pilot Study
The primary aim of this study is to determine the efficacy of naltrexone (an opioid antagonist) in reducing PGD symptoms compared to placebo.
Grief and Trauma Intervention (TGCT-A) for grieving adolescents
This study aims to investigate how individual and group therapy treatment for adolescents who are experiencing grief and trauma (Trauma and Grief Component Therapy for Adolescents), randomized to be combined with behavioral parent training, affects their outcomes.
