Identifying the neurobehavioral signature of individuals with AUD and comorbid PTSD

拟议的K23指导患者导向研究职业发展奖的总体目标是 允许Amber Jarnecke博士在（1）酒精使用障碍（AUD）方面发展新的知识和研究技能 和共同发生的心理健康状况，特别是创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）;以及（2） 应用神经影像学和人类实验室范式研究AUD和PTSD。研究 表明患有AUD和PTSD共病的个体具有更严重的临床表现;更多 社会心理、法律的、医疗和经济问题;与 单独患有任何一种疾病的人。尽管经常同时发生和有害的后果 与合并AUD和PTSD相关，对这种合并症的有效治疗研究很少， 迫切需要经验数据，为制定有效的干预措施提供信息。调查 AUD和PTSD共病的神经回路和行为反应可能有助于发展一种更复杂的 彻底了解这种常见的合并症，并确定未来可行的治疗目标 干预措施。候选人是一名临床心理学家，在研究设计、统计学和心理学方面有很强的背景。 分析，以及对AUD的行为干预。根据拟议的K23奖，她的目标是获得新的 知识和研究技能，以推进她的长期职业目标，成为一个 独立调查员进行以患者为导向的研究，能够从基础研究中转化结果 针对AUD和合并症的潜在神经生物学机制的新治疗方法， 比如创伤后应激障碍为此，候选人在拟议的K23下的近期职业目标是：（1） 在AUD和PTSD的神经生物学方面打下坚实的基础;（2）获得先进的经验， 神经影像学技术和数据分析，以便更好地了解AUD/PTSD神经生物学 接口;（3）精通人类实验室范例的行为;（4）继续培训 负责任的研究行为，（5）提高她的科学和赠款写作技巧。在指导下 杰出的研究人员（苏迪·巴克博士，简·约瑟夫博士和凯瑟琳·布雷迪博士） 南卡罗来纳州和耶鲁大学的Rajita Sinha博士），候选人将采用基于任务的功能 磁共振成像（fMRI），以调查共病个体的神经行为反应， AUD和PTSD。拟议的K23奖项提供的指导和培训将大大提高 候选人在以患者为导向的研究领域的职业发展，重点是AUD和共病 创伤后应激障碍优秀的指导，实践经验，教学法和正式课程的结合将 提供丰富的培训经验和关键的初步数据，以支持未来的R系列应用。K23 应用程序直接响应NIAAA的使命和战略计划，以了解，预防， 治疗AUD和并发的精神健康状况。

The overall aim of the proposed K23 Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award is to allow Dr. Amber Jarnecke to develop new knowledge and research skills in (1) alcohol use disorders (AUD) and co-occurring mental health conditions, in particular, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); and (2) the application of neuroimaging and human laboratory paradigms to investigate AUD and PTSD. Research demonstrates that individuals with comorbid AUD and PTSD have a more severe clinical presentation; more psychosocial, legal, medical and economic problems; and poorer treatment outcomes as compared to individuals with either disorder alone. Despite the frequent co-occurrence and deleterious consequences associated with comorbid AUD and PTSD, research on effective treatments for this comorbidity is sparse, and empirical data is critically needed to inform the development of effective interventions. Investigation of the neural circuitry and behavioral responses underlying comorbid AUD and PTSD may help develop a more thorough understanding of this common comorbidity, and identify viable treatment targets for future interventions. The candidate is a clinical psychologist with a strong background in research design, statistical analysis, and behavioral interventions for AUD. Under the proposed K23 award, she aims to obtain new knowledge and research skills in order to advance toward her long-term career goal of becoming an independent investigator conducting patient-oriented research, able to translate findings from basic research into new treatments that target the underlying neurobiological mechanisms of AUD and comorbid conditions, such as PTSD. To that end, the candidate's immediate career goals under the proposed K23 are to: (1) develop a solid foundation in the neurobiology of AUD and PTSD; (2) obtain experience in advanced neuroimaging techniques and data analysis in order to better understand the AUD/PTSD neurobiological interface; (3) become proficient in the conduct of human laboratory paradigms; (4) continue training in the responsible conduct of research, and (5) enhance her scientific and grant writing skills. Under the mentorship of outstanding investigators (Drs. Sudie Back, Jane Joseph, and Kathleen Brady at the Medical University of South Carolina and Dr. Rajita Sinha at Yale University), the candidate will employ task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate the neurobehavioral responses of individuals with comorbid AUD and PTSD. The mentorship and training afforded by the proposed K23 award will significantly enhance the candidate's career development in the area of patient-oriented research focused on AUD and comorbid PTSD. The combination of outstanding mentorship, hands-on experience, didactics and formal coursework will provide a rich training experience and critical preliminary data to support future R-series applications. This K23 application is directly responsive to the mission of NIAAA and the strategic plan to understand, prevent, and treat AUD and co-occurring mental health conditions.