PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT.
Emotional abuse (EA) during childhood and adolescence is associated with greater risk and severity of
depression. EA is particularly common among sexual minority youth (SMY; individuals with same sex romantic
identities and attractions), a population that experiences striking depression disparities. Critical knowledge gaps
prevent adequate detection and treatment of depression in SMY and addressing these disparities requires
rigorous research on the mechanisms underlying depression in SMY. The proposed K23 tests an innovative
model integrating cognitive and social theories of depression with affective neuroscience to explore how EA
impacts neural systems underlying in the low self-worth and a negative self-focus characteristic of depression.
This study will use task-based functional and diffusion MRI to examine the impact of EA on reward processing
neural systems (Aim 1) and self-biased processing neural systems (Aim 2), and the relationship of EA-associated
changes in these systems to depression (Aim 3) in SMY. Exploratory aims will test the extent to which EA-
associated changes in these neural systems, both independently and in combination, influence depression and
comorbid symptoms. This research supports a critical public health need by adding to emerging biological
models of depression for SMY, and will enhance understanding of how EA, a pernicious form of trauma linked
to depression severity and persistence, impacts neural systems underlying depression. Such research is a first
step towards identifying novel targets for detection and developing interventions to reduce depression following
EA, including in SMY. The proposed will be the first in a program of research examining the influence of trauma
on the adolescent brain, and understanding how trauma-associated changes relate to affective symptoms, with
a focus on minority populations. To achieve this goal, the candidate will build on their expertise in SMY mental
health and basic neuroimaging to receive training in the impact of trauma on developmental psychopathology,
state-of-the-art neuroimaging methods, and advanced biostatistics. She has an ideal mentorship team and
optimal scientific environment to provide the training necessary for her to meet her career goals. Dr. Mary Phillips
is an expert in neural systems underlying mood disorders in adolescence and young adults; Dr. Erika Forbes is
an expert in developmental psychopathology and the affective neuroscience of depression, which she has
adapted to SMY; and Dr. Judith Cohen is an expert in the impact and clinical implications of trauma on youth
mental health. Additional mentorship from consultants will provide training in the impact of trauma on the brain
in youth (Dr. Ryan Herringa), state-of-the-art fMRI (Dr. Ted Satterthwaite) and dMRI (Dr. Amelia Versace)
methods, and biostatistics (Dr. Dana Tudorascu). This training will prepare the candidate for a research career
applying psychiatry’s understanding of neural systems, and the state-of-the-art methods available to explore
them, towards addressing emerging mental health disparities in youth communities disproportionately affected
by trauma, such as SMY.