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Hogg Foundation Awards $150,000 in Grants for Mental Health Research in Texas

Ten tenure-track assistant professors conducting mental health research projects in Texas have received nearly $150,000 in grants from the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health. The one-year grants are capped at $15,000 each.

Baylor College of Medicine
Dr. David Eagleman, an assistant professor of neuroscience and psychiatry, founded and directs the college’s Initiative on Neuroscience and Law. He also is a faculty affiliate in the Criminal Justice Institute at the University of Houston Law Center. He will study the psychological, behavioral and neurological traits of people convicted of sex crimes.

Criminally sexual behavior is a major mental health issue, Eagleman stated in his proposal. Identifying similarities in aggression, sexual deviancy, impulse control, brain patterns and other characteristics shared by people who commit sex crimes could lead to more effective treatment, sentencing and rehabilitation.

“A surprisingly large chasm exists between our legal system and our modern knowledge about the brain and behavior. This project will provide scientists and lawmakers with important insights into the underlying mental health of sexually criminal behavior,” Eagleman said.

Dr. Mary Newsome is an assistant professor and member of a research team at the college’s Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory. She will determine why some at-risk youth who grow up in highly stressful conditions such as violence, poverty and abuse have greater resiliency than others in the same environment.

Children who experience significant adversity and hardships are at greater risk of dropping out of school, using drugs, entering the juvenile justice system, and having post-traumatic stress disorder, attention problems and depression. Yet some adapt and become productive, competent adults, Newsome said in her proposal. She will work with colleagues to identify key psychological and cognitive factors that make the difference.

“This topic has important implications for the well-being of adolescents at risk for mental health disorders and poor outcomes in educational achievement and social integration,” Newsome said. “Greater understanding of the characteristics associated with resilience in at-risk youth could lead to more effective services and, ultimately, more successful outcomes for these youth.”

“We know that human behavior and mental health are affected by the brain, but more research is needed to understand how and why this happens. These studies may help answer these questions,” said Dr. Octavio N. Martinez, Jr., executive director of the foundation.

Texas A&M University
Dr. Jamilia Blake, an assistant professor in the Department of Educational Psychology, specializes in the social development of ethnic minority children and violence intervention and prevention. She plans to study parental socialization practices that may contribute to ethnic differences in youth aggression.

“A child’s display of aggression and response to aggression in others can lead to conflict, isolation and disciplinary problems in school and other social settings. Identifying cultural differences in aggression may lead to more appropriate and effective techniques to manage behavior,” said Dr. Octavio N. Martinez, Jr., executive director of the foundation.

Nearly 30 percent of youth in schools across the United States engage in aggression and experience victimization, and African American and Latino youth are at greater risk of both, Blake reported in her proposal. A possible link may be messages communicated by parents of color to their children about the acceptability of aggression.

“I will examine processes that contribute to ethnic differences in youth aggression and identify familial factors that may discourage youth from engaging in aggression,” Blake said. “I hope my research will influence development of future aggression interventions and encourage existing intervention and prevention programs to become more culturally responsive.”

Texas Woman’s University
Dr. Kimberly Booker, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology and Philosophy, will assess the psychological needs and behavioral difficulties of adolescents in disciplinary alternative education programs. She also plans to identify better screening methods to help at-risk youth. Dr. Angela Mitchell, also an assistant professor in the department, will work with her on the project. Their work will be conducted through a partnership with the Dallas Independent School District.

“Often, children with disciplinary problems have undiagnosed mental health needs that contribute to their behavior issues. They have a far better chance at success in school if those needs are identified and treated appropriately,” said Dr. Octavio N. Martinez, Jr., executive director of the foundation.

Students in disciplinary alternative education programs tend to be at risk of failing and include dropouts, students with disabilities or high-risk behaviors, and a disproportionate number of children of color. Increasing focus on high-stakes testing gradually has resulted in less screening, awareness and treatment of students’ behavioral issues and mental health needs, according to Booker’s proposal.

“We hope to shed light on behavioral and mental health barriers to adolescents being successful in school,” Booker said. “Our focus on the vulnerable alternative education population has particular importance, considering these students’ increased potential for academic failure and dropping out.”

University of Texas at Arlington
Dr. Suk-Young Kang, an assistant professor in the School of Social Work, specializes in mental and physical health among Asian immigrants in the United States. He will study the recent economic downturn's effect on depression among Korean immigrant elders in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

“The economic crisis has yanked the financial security blanket away from many families and individuals, causing them stress and anxiety. How people respond to stress and whether they seek treatment for related issues like depression can depend on their cultural beliefs and attitudes about mental health,” said Dr. Octavio N. Martinez, Jr., executive director of the foundation.

Financial stress is a risk factor for depression, which in turn is linked to elder suicide, Kang said in his proposal. Korean immigrants aged 65 and older in the U.S. have a poverty rate of 19 percent and are more likely to be affected by financial crisis. However, limited resources and cultural stigma may prevent them from seeking treatment.

“The lack of reliable data creates a policy and programming vacuum regarding mental health issues faced by Korean immigrant elders,” Kang said. “I believe this study's findings will begin to fill that void and will serve as the basis for a future study on the effectiveness of stress management in reducing depression.”

The University of Texas at Austin
Dr. Hongjoo Lee, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology, will study the effects of menopause and hormone replacement therapy on attention and memory, using an animal model mimicking abnormal neural activities often seen in many mental disorders. She is an expert on the nervous system’s link to psychological processes such as learning and memory and the influences of gender, trauma and mental disorders on these processes.

Little is known about the effects of hormonal changes and hormone replacement therapy on women with mental illness, Lee pointed out in her proposal. More research is needed to understand the neurological links between menopause and mental and attentional disorders and to improve diagnosis and treatment.

“The goal of my research is to give much-needed answers to some questions regarding women and mental health during menopause,” Lee said. “It is the first step in helping health providers address hormonal issues, personalize treatment, and inform patients and their families of changes that may occur due to hormonal influences.”

Dr. Michele Rountree, an assistant professor in the School of Social Work, will research the obstacles and supports experienced by people with HIV/AIDS in accessing mental health and substance use services in Texas. She studies health promotion, disease prevention and disparities in health services for marginalized populations.

People with HIV/AIDS are nearly twice as likely to have major depression, which can lead to faster progression of the disease and higher mortality rates, according to Rountree’s proposal. However, in 2007 more than $185 million in funding for mental health and substance use services was not fully spent for the estimated 61,000 people in Texas who have HIV/AIDS.

“I am working to gain insight into the facilitators and barriers in assessing and linking HIV-infected clients to mental health and substance abuse services in Texas,” Rountree said. “Understanding these factors is critical to meeting the mental health and substance abuse needs of this underserved population.”

“Both these studies are tackling important mental health issues and may lead to more effective treatments and services for consumers of mental health services,” said Dr. Octavio N. Martinez, Jr., executive director of the foundation.

University of Texas at Dallas
Dr. Shayla Holub is an assistant professor in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and a childhood development expert at the Center for Children and Families. She will examine the relationship between weight and psychological health in young children. Her study will involve 150 children between ages four and six.

“The way we think and feel about our bodies begins forming at a very young age. This study will help identify ways to nurture a positive self-image in very young children, regardless of their size and weight,” said Dr. Octavio N. Martinez, Jr., executive director of the foundation.

More than 30 percent of American children are estimated to be overweight, which has been associated with higher rates of depression, behavior problems, poor body image and low self-esteem, according to Holub's proposal. However, few studies have examined the link between psychological health and obesity during early childhood, when attitudes about weight and body size begin to develop.

“I will look at whether young children who experience teasing because of their weight are more at risk for behavior problems, negative self-perceptions, and problematic peer relationships,” Holub said. “This is important because early intervention might buffer these children from even more problems during middle childhood and adolescence.”

University of Texas at San Antonio
Dr. Gabriel Acevedo, an assistant professor of sociology, will examine the influences of religious involvement and civic participation on mental health in low-income communities. He is an expert on the sociology of religion, social theory and social psychology.

“Our sense of well-being can be strengthened by connecting with others who share our interests or beliefs. This study will confirm whether people who participate in religious and community organizations tend to have better mental health, and if so, why,” said Dr. Octavio N. Martinez, Jr., executive director of the foundation.

Religious involvement long has been linked to positive mental health, lower rates of depression, and better coping skills in times of stress and anxiety, Acevedo said in his proposal. What isn’t known is whether these mental health benefits are due to religious factors alone, or to the broader social interaction and support that occurs in both religious and secular groups.

“If civic participation is as beneficial to mental health as religious involvement, then future research should pay greater attention to the positive gains from participating in local PTAs, community volunteer groups, associations and other civic groups,” Acevedo said. “The study also may influence the types of mental health treatments and services practitioners recommend to consumers.”

University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Dr. Laurel Copeland, an assistant professor of psychiatry and a research health scientist in the South Texas Veterans Health Care System, studies the use of health services by people with serious mental illness. She will examine mental health care preferences of 3,200 South Texas veterans who recently returned from Iraq or Afghanistan.

“The lives of these men and women have been placed at risk on behalf of the United States, and many of them have experienced unimaginable trauma and stress as a result of their military service. In return, they deserve mental health services and supports that are accessible, affordable and effective,” said Dr. Octavio N. Martinez, Jr., executive director of the foundation.

Copeland noted in her proposal that many of these veterans experienced combat and violent, lengthy and repeated tours of duty, and need counseling for acute stress reactions, anxiety, substance use, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. However, mental health services in South Texas are scarce, so providing care efficiently and effectively is critical.

“Local Veterans Affairs providers want to know what kinds of care new veterans prefer, and whether their preferences vary by factors such as ethnicity and gender,” Copeland said. “This study will determine what characteristics of mental health care are associated with the best outcomes for our newest veterans.”