RISE-C
The purpose of the RISE-C study is to find out if a new online intervention program will help women feel better faster after assault compared to the normal standard of care plus surveys. The RISE-C study expands the results from the RISE study by enrolling survivors of sexual assault who are active cannabis users. The online intervention program provided to participants targets anxiety sensitivity, which plays a role in posttraumatic stress, as well as anxiety, depression, pain, and insomnia. However, minimal research has been done to assess the role anxiety sensitivity plays for people with PTSD who are active cannabis users; this study aims to fill this gap. The researchers at STAR clinic are grateful to the National Institute of Health and National Institute on Drug Abuse for funding this import research (K23 DA054299-01A1).
THRIVE
The THRIVE study is a cross-sectional study aimed to identify healthcare and support needs for survivors of domestic abuse. By administering surveys to survivors and healthcare professionals alike, our goal is to address the most pressing needs for survivors and disseminate this information to providers, creating a better experience for those who can benefit. This study is done in collaboration with Dr. Pamela Payne from the University of Nevada, Reno. We were generously funded by the UNLV-UNR Extension Partnership grant to be able to conduct this study.
PATH
The PTSD and Adolescent Trajectories during Healing (PATH) study is a longitudinal study examining the trajectories of posttraumatic stress, pain, and substance use after adolescent sexual assault. In collaboration with the Southern Nevada Children’s Advocacy Center, this study involves a series of longer surveys and shorter daily surveys. Goals of the PATH study include improving post-assault treatments for adolescents, identifying opportunities for promoting recovery, and preventing substance use among adolescents who have experienced a stressful event. We are thankful to fund study activities with support from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Department of Psychology.
Completed Studies
RISE Study
The RISE Study was a pilot feasibility and acceptability study of a brief, cognitive behavioral smart phone-based intervention to mitigate the development of posttraumatic stress and substance misuse among women presenting to emergency care after sexual assault. This treatment targets anxiety sensitivity, or a fear of anxious arousal, which is a transdiagnostic risk factor that is thought to play a role not only in posttraumatic stress, but also other burdensome conditions common after sexual assault, such as anxiety, depression, pain, and insomnia. The RISE Study took place in a select number of sites in the Better Tomorrow Network. Our goal was to optimize the intervention based on pilot feedback, and ultimately test the program in a randomized controlled trial. If successful, such an intervention could be delivered to emergency care sites for sexual assault nationwide to mitigate the significant and under-treated distressing mental health sequelae of sexual assault.
The RISE Study was generously supported by awards from the American Psychological Foundation, MayDay fund, and NIH.
