Student Driven Publication 2016

Newsletter Coordinators: Randy P. Auerbach, Kristin Gainey, and Vijay Mittal

Diego A. Pizzagalli, Ph.D. McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School

Nancy Lundin, Indiana University Bloomington Tanya Tran, Queen’s University Shereen Khoo, University of Notre Dame Joshua Mervis, Twin Cities

t was a pleasure to important complement to speak with Dr. Diego categorical classifications of I A. Pizzagalli about his mental illness. By branching research trajectory and out from a sole focus on the insights at the 2016 SRP of meeting. He received his individual diagnoses, his work master’s and doctoral has delved into the degrees from the transdiagnostic construct of University of Zurich, reward sensitivity as a Switzerland, where he continuum. began his research in ethology and then Recent research in Dr. Pizzagalli’s transitioned to neurophysiology. Dr. lab focuses on neurobiological and Pizzagalli’s research is currently focused cognitive predictors of on the mechanisms of anhedonia, a psychopathology in treatment-seeking treatment-resistant symptom that is “He is finding that regardless of linked to impaired functioning in mood diagnosis, these patients fall on and anxiety disorders. Specifically, his lab employs rigorous translational work a continuum of reward to understand how environmental sensitivity, a measure that might factors, such as early childhood sexual help untangle their diathesis abuse and other forms of early better than clinical adversity, can affect hedonic processing presentation.” in reward learning systems of the brain such as the mesolimbic system. Aspects patients at mood disorders clinics. of Dr. Pizzagalli’s research have been These patients perform a probabilistic recently guided by principles of the reward learning task (developed by Dr. National Institute of Mental Health Pizzagalli’s research team) and undergo (NIMH) Research Domain Criteria a battery of neuroimaging assessments (RDoC) initiative. He views studying at baseline and one-year follow-up. fundamental dimensions of behavior as To illustrate this concept, he clinically meaningful, and as an gave the example of two patients receiving the diagnosis of targets of downstream translational from a clinic. On behavioral and work. He noted at his talk during this neuroimaging assessments of reward year’s SRP meeting that it often seems learning, one patient may demonstrate that regardless of the particular a hyperactive reward system while the intervention to treat depression, the other demonstrates blunted reward response rate is about 50-55%. Dr. learning. He adds that these Pizzagalli laments that we as a field are dimensional measures across units of still using the same type of analysis can aid us in predicting whether antidepressants we used 40 years ago. these patients will develop hypomanic, He therefore called for greater progress impulsive, anhedonic, or unipolar in pharmacological mechanisms, depressive tendencies over the next seeking to use smarter ways to guide year. Such predictions could provide patient-specific treatment, noting that critical clinical foresight and this problem is not unique to opportunities for novel interventions. depression research. He hopes for new When asked about the clinical progress via genetic work or implications of his research, Dr. development of new compounds, Pizzagalli explained that he sees his especially fast-acting compounds, such research applying to a patient’s day-to- as ketamine, or an agent with similar day experience of depression, in line properties. with today’s emphasis on personalized Dr. Pizzagalli expressed healthcare. While his research is what motivation to collaborate with many might classify as basic human preclinical researchers to accelerate the neuroscience, the drive to improve process of finding new treatment people’s lives motivates this work, as mechanisms. He reflected on the through his lab’s efforts to find academic temptation to spend a career biomarkers of treatment response. For focused within one’s own lab on just example, basic neuroscientific findings one construct, but notes that progress is might inform a clinician as to whether best achieved through collaboration an individual client would respond best with scientists of many kinds who offer to a particular psychotherapeutic unique perspectives. Beyond intervention, a certain medication collaboration with preclinical teams, Dr. regimen, or both. Pizzagalli sees an important opportunity Dr. Pizzagalli is optimistic about for experimental psychopathologists to the future of translational neuroscience, join forces in tackling difficult clinical noting that it is challenging work, but research questions. He explains, “The has potential for important findings. For field of neuroimaging has great example, “personalized treatments that potential to benefit from those in really push the envelope” are critical engineering who use machine learning and other sophisticated algorithms that psychopathology, higher rates of smoking and stimulant use, and maladaptive coping behaviors. In addition to a focus on risk, he is currently studying resilience factors that may protect victims of childhood maltreatment from developing psychopathology. In the future, his team is looking forward to continuing these lines of work and focusing on sex- specific differences in the manifestation of depressive symptoms from both could assist in subtyping patients”. In behavioral and neurobiological conjunction with the large genome- perspectives. wide association studies using brute When we asked Dr. Pizzagalli for force with large sample sizes, Dr. advice that he would give students Pizzagalli explains that experimental pursuing academia, he told us to psychopathologists could play a unique, prepare ourselves to experience synergistic role by incorporating multi- setbacks. Persevere in the pursuit of a faceted consideration of the phenotype topic you are passionate about, for you in a coordinated parallel to the will be rewarded later on regardless of genotype. whether others warn you that the line of Dr. Pizzagalli has led an research is not promising. He advised ambitious research career and attributes us that it is helpful not to be too his successful line of work to the early rejection-sensitive, given that we are in days of following small ideas. Reflecting a field in which we are constantly on a favorite moment of discovery, Dr. evaluated. Lastly, he encouraged us to Pizzagalli noted an early prospective read broadly outside of our immediate study looking at the effect of childhood field; reading literature and connecting maltreatment in females twenty years with colleagues in other areas can later. He found that even those who uncover the best insights. We were were not symptomatic had very blunted grateful that Dr. Pizzagalli took the time reward system activation, specifically in out of his busy schedule to chat with us, the striatum. This finding was one of the and we look forward to following his first to show that childhood future research pursuits! maltreatment can influence longstanding neurobiological changes to brain reward pathways and increase the risk of these individuals developing Steve Hollon, Ph.D. Zubin Award Winner

Chloe Hudson, Queen’s University Simone Cunningham, Queen’s University Lisa Bartolomeo, Indiana University Ema Tanovic, Yale University Docia Demmin, Rutgers University

r. Steve Hollon was this Florida State University for his year’s winner of the Joseph graduate training, which he D Zubin admitted was partially Award for his to avoid the snow. lifetime Like many first year contribution students entering to research on graduate school, Dr. the etiology Hollon initially was and treatment plagued with doubts of depression. about his chosen Dr. Hollon has path. Despite always made an being interested in enormous contribution to the field, depression, he was met with the with 250 publications–his favorites struggle of integrating his own being the long-term follow-ups of interests with those of his professors. treatment for depression. We had It was not until his advisor shared a the pleasure to speak with Dr. preprint of a book chapter on the Hollon to discuss the trajectory of his psychology of depression written by career and advice he has for current Dr. that he felt and prospective scientist- confident and motivated in his practitioners. pursuits. These ambitions were Dr. Hollon reported that he further amplified upon meeting his ended up in psychology “by beloved wife and fellow depression- accident.” Dr. Hollon began his crusader, Dr. Judy Garber. training with aspirations of Coincidentally, Dr. Garber becoming a lawyer, but quickly planned to move to Philadelphia to realized that he was more interested work with Dr. Seligman, while Dr. in psychology. Dr. Hollon attended Hollon aspired to work with Dr. Beck and others recognized as pioneers in useful in treating depression, so they the field of depression research, like assume that using them in Lyn Abramson, Lauren Alloy, Harold conjunction is also likely to be Sackeim, Myer Mendelson, and Joe helpful. However, Dr. Hollon’s work Mendel. Among these brilliant minds suggests that this may not actually and exposure to different aspects of be the case for promoting the best depression, Dr. Hollon had an long-term outcomes. Dr. Hollon epiphany that shaped his current presented a series of randomized approach to treating depression, control trials that suggest that: 1) which emphasizes long term, CBT often has enduring effects that enduring effects: continue to prevent depressive “It is not enough to get someone episode relapses after treatment has better, we have to keep them ended, 2) that combining CBT with better.” medication may undermine the enduring effects, and 3) that After completing his internship in antidepressant medications may Philadelphia, Dr. Hollon accepted a inhibit spontaneous remission and faculty position in Minnesota, while leave patients at increased risk for his wife, Dr. Garber, completed her relapse when they discontinue graduate training focused on medication. studying depression in adolescents. Home to both a pediatric and adult psychology department, the power couple happily found themselves at Vanderbilt next, where they remain today. When asked about his SRP When asked how the findings presentation, Dr. Hollon emphasized of his work could be implemented in that there is an abundance of the United States, Dr. Hollon research supporting the use of responded: only with a single-payer cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) healthcare system. The way that he to treat depression. In particular, he sees it, the current healthcare system emphasized that patients who are in the United States is not treated with CBT experience higher particularly effective and has a remission rates than patients who problematic incentive structure. are left untreated and lower relapse “Why are we using meds to only rates than patients who are treated treat, when we could cure using with medication. In his talk, he therapy?” he asked, “Because it’s discussed how people often accept not affordable [to provide therapy] that both medication and CBT are and the system keeps it this way.” applied in the treatment of He contrasted the American system depression and we can learn from with that of the United Kingdom, the parallel. “Don’t handicap where there is a National Health yourself,” he says, “who knows what Service that takes care of citizens’ you’re going to get, you’ll never healthcare, “from the cradle to the know until you try.” Dr. Hollon grave.” Because of this, he recognizes that it may appear as explained, the British government though he and his colleagues had invests in training mental health everything planned out, but in fact providers on the most effective successful careers rarely happen in treatment techniques. Looking such a way. Like many young forward, Dr. Hollon expects that the graduate students, Dr. Hollon future effectiveness of mental health reported that he felt like a fraud care in the US will depend on upon first entering the field. He whether the Affordable Care Act admits that this feeling has never survives the presidential election; if really changed, but suggests, “it so, he predicts that coordinated doesn’t need to.” “You always stay health insurance, like a single-payer just one step ahead of being found system, is on the horizon. In his view, out, that’s what it comes down to,” having a healthcare system that is he says. Early on, Dr. Hollon learned conducive to the delivery of therapy he could build a career from making is important. Dr. Hollon explained mistakes and then correcting them in that he believes that most non- the next trial, and he advises young psychotic disorders can be treated investigators to do the same. He as effectively, if not more effectively, challenges young people interested with psychosocial interventions in pursuing graduate school in compared to medication. An avenue psychology to “do something for future work that he is excited interesting and hard” in the interim. about is developing individualized It seems Hollon learned a great deal treatments that are unique to each from his early hurdles, and it is these patient to maximize effectiveness. experiences that helped shape his Dr. Hollon’s career path has career into what it is today. not been without its challenges and Dr. Hollon believes that when he offer several pieces of advice to you find what truly excites you, you aspiring scientist-practitioners. Dr. can realize your true potential. “If it Hollon says, “Do what you want, doesn’t keep you up at night take chances, and let other people because you’re interested in it, then tell you no. Don’t assume no.” He it’s not the right fit.” Dr. Hollon notes this same philosophy is advises. For Dr. Hollon, this passion is evident in his lifelong research on the treatment of depression, and we are tremendously grateful for his dedication. Richard Zinbarg, Ph.D. Northwestern University, Department of Psychology

Mayan Castro, University of California Irvine Alexandra Moussa-Tooks, Indiana University John Purcell, Indiana University Colin Stanton, Yale University of research more akin to e were excited his own experience, Dr. for opportunity to Zinbarg began moving Wsit down with toward research of Northwestern professor Dr. anxiety-related Richard Zinbarg during the problems with a 2016 SRP meeting in primary focus on the Baltimore, Maryland to psychopathology of discuss the development of anxiety disorders his research interests, though also previous experiences at conducting some SRP conferences, advice for research on younger researchers and interventions for foci of current research. Dr. anxiety. Presently, Dr. Zinbarg Zinbarg’s work investigates describes his research as falling into numerous topics including anxiety two major domains. The first lies at disorder psychotherapy, the intersection of personality and measurement, and development via psychopathology, taking into the lens of personality traits. His account variation in general factors work has exerted an immense (akin to general intelligence) and impact on current understanding of group factors (akin to verbal and the etiology and treatment of spatial ability) to better characterize anxiety disorders. vulnerability to the development of When Dr. Zinbarg began his anxiety disorders and depression. PhD at Northwestern University, he His second line of work concerns was primarily interested in disrupted psychometrics, and, in particular, behavioral inhibition systems (BIS) in internal scale consistency. In this psychopathy. However, he soon domain, Dr. Zinbarg focuses on the became fascinated by the ways that tendency for researchers to utilize an overactive BIS might manifest in Cronbach’s alpha as a “measure of anxiety disorders. Finding this area oneness”, when alternatives such as Revelle’s β or McDonald’s ωh may was little representation of research provide a better conceptualization of on anxiety disorders; the conference reliability. was dominated by schizophrenia To provide further insight into and bipolar research. Over time, his development as a researcher, Dr. research presentations diversified to Zinbarg cited some of his key include more anxiety research. influences. Dr. Zinbarg expressed his Furthermore, Dr. Zinbarg asserted: admiration for the research of the late Dr. Jeffrey Gray, and especially “Designs and statistical for his conceptualization of the BIS. approaches have become more Dr. Zinbarg noted that he admires refined over time, such that the strong neural component of this researchers are now focusing on model and has incorporated this manipulating variables such as concept into his own research. information processing biases Additionally, he spoke highly of Dr. rather than passively measuring Lorna Benjamin, describing her as an them. These changes have aided “expert on the treatment of in the diversity of ideas and Borderline Personality improved the development of Disorder.” Dr. Zinbarg praised her impactful interventions.” as both “one of the most gifted clinicians” and one of the most Yet, some important aspects of SRP “psychometrically sophisticated” have not changed over the years, individuals in the field. Finally, he including the intimate and highly recognized the contributions that Dr. interactive atmosphere and “crowd David Barlow, his post-doctoral of curious attendees that ask mentor, has made towards the thoughtful and respectful integration of science and practice questions.” Dr. Zinbarg praised and the understanding that “human these elements that make SRP the behavior is complexly determined.” “amazing, unique” conference that Dr. Zinbarg esteemed Dr. Barlow as it is. a “pioneer” for his work on applying When asked about advice for single-case experimental designs to younger researchers, Dr. Zinbarg the study of individual psychological responded that “the best research treatment. comes from passion.” He Dr. Zinbarg also spoke about suggested that in order to stay changes to the SRP conference over productive and energized, students the course of his career. When he should: “lead a happy life by living first started attending SRP as a post- in the moment,” and “do good doctoral researcher in 1992, there research by identifying questions that excite you.” Dr. Zinbarg also stressed the importance of “struggling through” early anxieties that can arise when young researchers formulate research questions. This struggle helps students learn to independently conceptualize research projects. Dr. Zinbarg’s final word of advice was to encourage students to work on research outside of what is handed to them by their mentors, when funding allows. This independence allows student to invest in unique research questions and propagate new and exciting lines of research. Our conversation with Dr. Zinbarg left a lasting impact, as has his research on the field of anxiety disorders. We are grateful for his time and immense contributions to psychology and SRP. Sunny Dutra Yale University Mentor: June Gruber Smadar Levin Award Recipient

Shaynna Herrera, Yeshiva University Susan Kuo, University of Pittsburgh Keira O'Donovan, University of Massachusetts, Boston Sunny noted that she has unny Dutra, a recent always been fascinated by graduate of Yale mood disorders and the S University, is the ways they can alter an winner of the 2016 Smadar individual’s fundamental Levin Award. Members of experience of the world. the newsletter committee This curiosity led her to had the great pleasure of her lab manager position interviewing Sunny on her under Dr. Diego Pizzagalli career path, research at Harvard University after program development and graduating college. future plans. There, she began to learn about neuroimaging, Sunny's journey began as anhedonia and an undergraduate at the depression, eventually University of California, Santa Barbara. It honing in on the neuroscience of was there that she completed her reward processing. Sunny expressed honor's thesis in the Center for gratitude to Dr. Pizzagalli for the many Evolutionary Psychology (CEP) under opportunities in his laboratory that the mentorship of Leda Cosmides, PhD. helped to build the foundation for her While in the CEP one day, a researcher research interests moving forward. told Sunny that a career in science can afford one the unique opportunity to When she entered graduate school, create new knowledge, knowledge that Sunny reconnected with Dr. June has never existed before in the world. Gruber (picture above with Sunny). She She wondered, "What could ever be and Dr. Gruber had originally met when more meaningful, or more important, Dr. Gruber was a graduate student at than creating new knowledge?”, and UC Berkeley and Sunny was a summer now remembers this as the moment she research assistant with Dr. Gruber. They decided to pursue a career in research. maintained their connection and had very similar research interests in the great deal of research uses money as a ways that reward and positive emotion reward, but as reward vary, so it is can go awry and contribute to important to capture this diversity. psychopathology. Even before Sunny Results indicated that both monetary entered graduate school, they began and social reward elicited greater designing a large research project from striatal activation. They also found that which Sunny’s dissertation data were when participants with bipolar disorder collected. Sunny stated that one of Dr. expected to receive a reward but didn’t, Gruber’s strengths is her ability to there was a reduction in frontostriatal organize all of the necessary resources functional connectivity. This suggests a and personnel to smoothly and failure to “put on the brakes” in reward efficiently coordinate all aspects of a pursuit, despite signals to slow down large research study. Sunny is grateful and reevaluate. for Dr. Gruber’s mentorship, guidance, and generosity throughout graduate Regarding her future, Sunny has just school that allowed her to successfully finished her internship at the Boston VA complete her dissertation. and is staying to complete a T32 postdoctoral fellowship at Boston Sunny’s dissertation focused on the University/VA Boston under the neural underpinnings of reward related mentorship of Dr. Brian Marx. She dysfunction in bipolar disorder. At the plans to study individual differences in trait level, people with bipolar disorder reward processing under stress, show elevated sensitivity to rewards and addressing questions regarding persistent positive emotion. Sunny similarities and differences in anhedonia wanted to understand the neural between depression and PTSD. She is underpinnings of this process in terms also interested in examining whether we of regional activation and functional can better predict suicide in veterans by connectivity. To do this, she used a improving our understanding of modified version of a Monetary alterations in reward processing in Incentive Delay task developed by Dr. anhedonia. Ten years from now, Sunny Brian Knutson and colleagues. envisions herself continuing to conduct However, they also wanted to research on reward processing understand the processing of social dysfunctions and their contributions to rewards, so they designed a parallel psychopathology. task in which participants earned social praise as a reward. Sunny noted that a of individual projects. She says that having a continuous dialogue about focusing her interests guided her in figuring out projects she wanted to be involved in and allowed her to maximize her investment in projects that build upon each other.

Not Pictured: Keira O’Donovan Sunny described her mentoring relationship with Dr. Gruber as being an invaluable learning experience because of Dr. Gruber’s fresh perspective and openness to developing new ideas. In particular, she appreciates learning from Dr. Gruber about ways to shape big ideas into reality, coordinating large teams of undergraduate and graduate trainees to work on large-scale studies. Furthermore, being Dr. Gruber’s first graduate student allowed her to be involved in key decisions in the development of a research lab from its beginning stages and provided her with the unique opportunity to think about the long-term future of the lab together.

When asked about advice for up and coming researchers, Sunny particularly appreciates that Dr. Gruber encouraged her to think from early on about developing an independent research program. Sunny attributes much of her success in research and clinical work to thinking about an overarching framework of the larger questions she is interested in addressing, rather than approaching her work as a compilation