Effectiveness and Implementation of a Mindfulness Intervention for Depressive Symptoms Among Low-income, Racial/Ethnic Minority Adults in a Federally Qualified Health Center
Principal Investigator: Dr. Inger Burnett-Zeigler, PhD. Northwestern University
My Role: Co-Designed 8-week mindfulness curriculum. Currently provides trainings and supervision to mindfulness instructors (2018-Present)
Description: A multi-site study funded by the NIH. The objective of this study is to examine the clinical effectiveness of a mindfulness intervention on reducing depressive symptoms among socio-economically disadvantaged, racial/ethnic minority adults and explore factors related to implementation in a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). This research will be used to develop a generalizable model for delivery of streamlined mental health interventions in community based settings that will be broadly disseminated and scalable to other populations. To learn more, click here.
Publications/Presentations: Burnett-Zeigler I, Hong S, Waldron E, Maletich C, Yang A, Moskowitz J. A Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Low-Income African American Women with Depressive Symptoms Delivered by an Experienced Instructor Versus a Novice Instructor (2019). The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 25(7): 699-708.
A Mindfulness-Based e-Health Intervention to Improve Medication Adherence Among Breast Cancer Survivors
Principal Investigator: Dr. Betina Yanez, PhD. Northwestern University
My Role: Designed and currently teaching 8-week online mindfulness-based curriculum (2019-Present)
Description: Funded by the NIH, this study seeks to determine the feasibility (i.e., acceptability, demand, practicality, intended limited effects) of a group, web-based mindfulness-based program for breast cancer survivors on endocrine therapy. To learn more, click here.
Title: Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy delivered via Group Videoconferencing for Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients with Elevated Depression Symptoms
Principal Investigator: Dr. Christina Luberto, PhD. Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School (MGH/HMS)
My Role: Served as an advisor for adapting curriculum to online platform.
Description: Funded by a NCCIH K23 award, this study explores the feasibility of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy delivered via group videoconferencing for patients with depression and cardiovascular disease.
Reducing the Effects of Active Surveillance Stress, Uncertainty and Rumination thru Engagement in Mindfulness Education (REASSURE ME)
PI: David Victorson, PhD. Northwestern University
My Role: Taught mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention & provided supervision for instructors across sites (2015-2018)
Description: This is a partially blinded, multi-site randomized placebo controlled clinical trial to examine the efficacy of an 8-week mindfulness based stress reduction intervention for men diagnosed with prostate cancer on active surveillance and their spouses compared to a time/attention-matched health promotion control condition. To learn more, go to The Consciousness In Health Lab at www.consciousnessinhealth.org
Publications/Presentations: Victorson D, Gutierrez B, Maletich C, Schuette S, Kutikov A, Morgan T, Kundu S, Brendler C. (2016). Reducing the Effects of Active Surveillance Stress, Uncertainty, and Rumination through Engagement in Mindfulness Education (REASSURE ME): Overview of a New NCI Funded Trial for Men on Active Surveillance for Prostate Cancer and their Spouses. Oral presentation at the International Conference of the Society for Integrative Oncology, Miami, FL.
Victorson D, Maletich C, Gutierrez B, Schuette S, Morgan T, Kutikov A, Kundu S, Eggener S, Brendler C. (2016). Description of a New National Cancer Institute Funded Randomized Controlled Trial "REASSURE ME" to Support Emotion Regulation, Positive Health Behaviors, and Adherence in a Sample of Men with Prostate Cancer on Active Surveillance and their Spouses. Podium presentation at the 2016 Annual North Central Section Meeting of the American Urological Association, Chicago, IL.
Enhancing Cardiac Health through Online Mindfulness Training (ECHO-MT)
Principal Investigator: David Victorson, PhD. Northwestern University
My Role: Co-designed online mindfulness curriculum, meditations, and content for motion graphic videos (2016-2018)
Description: Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at Northwestern Medicine and Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute funded study to develop and test a comprehensive and dynamic eHealth-enabled mindfulness training tool amongst patients with idiopathic chest pain. To learn more, go to The Consciousness In Health Lab at www.consciousnessinhealth.org
Mindfulness Online for Symptom Alleviation and Improvement in Cancer of the Prostate (MOSAIC-P)
Principal Investigator: Dr. David Victorson, PhD. Northwestern University
My Role: Designed and taught 4-week online mindfulness intervention (2015-2018)
Description: Funded by North Shore University Health System Pilot Award, this study examined the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary efficacy of a synchronous, 4-week online Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction intervention with men diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer using video conferencing software. To learn more, go to The Consciousness In Health Lab at www.consciousnessinhealth.org
Reducing the Effects of Active Surveillance Stress, Uncertainty and Rumination thru Engagement in Mindfulness Education (REASSURE ME)
Principal Investigator: Dr. David Victorson, PhD. Northwestern University
My Role: Served as primary interventionist and taught 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction course (2014-2016)
Description: An American Cancer Society Illinois Division funded study designed to examine the feasibility and acceptability of mindfulness based stress reduction with young adults with cancer and evaluate its effects on outcomes of health related quality of life and disease symptoms. To learn more, go to The Consciousness In Health Lab at www.consciousnessinhealth.org
Eliminating Stress, Tension & Overweight thru Yoga & Lifestyle Interventions – Survivors Taking Action (ESTOY LISTA)
Principal Investigators: David Victorson, PhD. Northwestern University & Judy Guitelman, ALAS Wings
My Role: Co-designed 12-week yoga curriculum and provided supervision for instructors (2015-2017)
Description: A Community-Based Participatory Research study examining the biopsychosocial impact of a Spanish language community yoga intervention for Hispanic cancer survivors and their care providers. . In addition to self-report questionnaires, this study is also collecting biomarkers of stress and inflammation (CRP, IL-6). To learn more, go to The Consciousness In Health Lab at www.consciousnessinhealth.org
Presentation: Maletich C, Guitelman J, Valerio A, Rodriguez E, Rodriguez W, Gutierrez S, Ring M, Victorson D. (2016). Creating a Culturally Tailored Spanish Language Yoga Program for Latinos with Cancer Using a Community Engaged Research Approach. Poster presentation at the Integrative Medicine for the Underserved (IM4US) 2016 Annual Conference, Irvine, California.
Investigating Mindfulness and Music to Ease Radiation Side Effects in Prostate Cancer (IMMERSE-P)
Principal Investigator: Dr. David Victorson, PhD. Northwestern University
My Role: Co-designed curriculum and created meditation audio recordings for the intervention (2015-2016)
Description: A Fagen Family Trust funded study to examine the efficacy of a mindfulness-based program compared to brief music-based therapy program on self-reported outcomes of health amongst men diagnosed with prostate cancer. To learn more, go to The Consciousness In Health Lab at www.consciousnessinhealth.org
Mind-Body Health in Uro-Oncology
Principal Investigator: Dr. David Victorson, PhD. Northwestern University`
My Role: Served as primary interventionist and taught 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction course (2012-2016)
Description: Funded by the John and Carol Walter Center of Urological Health (NorthShore University Health System) this study expands on Victorson’s previous structured stress reduction study for all patients with localized prostate (n=45), kidney (n=12) and bladder (n=12) cancer and their spouses (n=69). Stress biomarkers (saliva and whole blood samples) are collected at baseline, 8-weeks and 6 months to measure associated changes in cortisol, C-Reactive Protein, IL-6, and IL-1b. To learn more go to The Consciousness In Health Lab at www.consciousnessinhealth.org