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Neural Mechanisms Underlying Self-Critical Rumination and Self-Reassurance and Suicidal Thoughts and Behavior in Youth

Award Number: K23MH122587
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/01/2020
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 03/31/2025

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Neural Mechanisms Underlying Self-Critical Rumination and Self-Reassurance and Suicidal Thoughts and Behavior in Youth - Suicide is the second leading cause of death among 10-34 year-olds. Aligning with the NIMH’s Prioritized Agenda for Suicide Prevention Research, this K23 career development award seeks to advance what is known about the brain/behavior mechanisms underlying self-critical rumination ─ defined as persistent negative-self- evaluation ─ and self-reassurance ─ providing compassion to self. This K23’s central hypothesis is that circuit alterations in the dorsolateral and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, dorsal anterior cingulate, and insula underlying self-critical rumination and self-reassurance are associated with increased suicidal thoughts and behavior (STB) in adolescents. Our central methodology is to examine self-critical rumination and self- reassurance using task-dependent and task-independent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and ecological momentary assessment (EMA) in 90 12-15-year-old youth recruited on the range of STB. This age group represents a critical developmental period for these self-referential processes, and youth in this age group experienced an alarming increase in suicide rates over the last decade. This K23’s research goals are to: (i) test the associations between in vivo self-critical rumination, self-reassurance, and STB; (ii) identify neural mechanisms underlying self-critical rumination and self-reassurance; (iii) integrate the findings from the scanner with STB assessed in adolescents’ real-world environment. This K23’s career development goals are to gain hands-on mentorship with (i) task-dependent and task-independent fMRI to assess circuit function, (ii) EMA for better real-world assessment of self-critical rumination and self-reassurance, (iii) statistical approaches for imaging and EMA data, (iv) professional development and collaboration skills. This K23 is significant because identifying specific neural mechanisms underlying the interplay between self-critical rumination, self-reassurance, and STB can help ascertain which teens are at a greater risk for STB and contribute to developing novel, mechanistically informed interventions. This study, combined with the completion of proposed training goals, will effectively propel the candidate towards establishing an independent program of research focused on identifying bio-behavioral mechanisms and developing preventative interventions for youth suicide risk. This K23 is innovative because this will be the first project to identify specific neural mechanisms of self-critical rumination and self-reassurance in adolescents, focusing on (i) identifying construct-specific neural mechanisms, (ii) a trans-diagnostic sample of teenagers selected on the range of STB, (iii) integration of imaging and EMA techniques. The mentors (Drs. Spirito, Armey, Jones, and Brick) and consultants (Drs. Price and Maratos) have extensive experience to support the proposed training goals. The Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at Brown University is an outstanding environment for the proposed training and research.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $248,962 )
2024	2024	EMMA PENDLETON BRADLEY HOSPITAL	1011 VETERANS MEMORIAL PKWY	RIVERSIDE	RI	02915	PROVIDENCE	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	001	5	3/18/2024	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$54,000
2024	2024	EMMA PENDLETON BRADLEY HOSPITAL	1011 VETERANS MEMORIAL PKWY	RIVERSIDE	RI	02915	PROVIDENCE	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	5	3/14/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$194,962
														Subtotal = $248,962

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $195,774 )
2023	2023	BRADLEY EMMA PENDLETON HOSPITAL	1011 VETERANS MEMORIAL PKWY	RIVERSIDE	RI	02915	PROVIDENCE	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	4	3/13/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$195,774
														Subtotal = $195,774

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $196,563 )
2022	2022	EMMA PENDLETON BRADLEY HOSPITAL	1011 VETERANS MEMORIAL PKWY	RIVERSIDE	RI	02915	PROVIDENCE	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	3	3/23/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$196,563
														Subtotal = $196,563

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $197,328 )
2021	2021	EMMA PENDLETON BRADLEY HOSPITAL	1011 VETERANS MEMORIAL PKWY	RIVERSIDE	RI	02915	PROVIDENCE	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	2	3/19/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$197,328
														Subtotal = $197,328

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $198,072 )
2020	2020	EMMA PENDLETON BRADLEY HOSPITAL	1011 VETERANS MEMORIAL PKWY	RIVERSIDE	RI	02915	PROVIDENCE	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	1	2/29/2020	NEW	$198,072
														Subtotal = $198,072

Grand Total All Awards = $1,036,699

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Neural Mechanisms Underlying Self-Critical Rumination and Self-Reassurance and Suicidal Thoughts and Behavior in Youth

Award Number: K23MH122587

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/01/2020

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 03/31/2025

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