TITAN Newsletter - Fall 2016

the university of Tulsa Institute of Trauma, Adversity and Injustice

Newsletter •

FALL 2016

TITAN Grant Exploring Integrated Treatment for PTSD and Nightmares In August 2014, TITAN received a grant from the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) to examine the benefits of combining two treatments for difficulties following trauma.

The first treatment, Exposure, Relaxation and Rescripting Therapy (ERRT), which was developed by TITAN Codirector and Professor of Psychology Joanne Davis, targets nightmares and sleep difficulties after trauma. Davis and her research team have been studying the efficacy of this treatment for more than a decade and have found promising results: Participants have experienced reduced nightmares, improved sleep quality and quantity and a reduction in posttraumatic

stress disorder (PTSD) and depression symptoms.

The second treatment, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), is one of the gold standards for PTSD. The OCAST grant allows Davis’ team to examine the treatments in combination and advance PTSD treatment literature. The trial is currently in its final year of recruitment.

Davis and TITAN student Chelsea Cogan have submitted a grant application to the National Institute of Mental Health to extend the trial an additional three years. ■

Student Spotlight Danielle Zanotti

Get Involved, Learn about Sleep TITAN researchers are encouraged to participate in current projects including the following: • Sleep Talks: The TITAN team has developed presentations that teach community members and clinicians about the impact of sleep. The lectures target adults who want to improve their sleep, parents who want to encourage quality sleep patterns among families and clinicians who assess and treat sleep issues.

• Recruitment: TITAN is currently accepting participants for its nightmare treatment studies. Free nightmare treatment is available for adults. Clients receive five 90-minute sessions with no medication and no overnight visits. The treatment is designed to improve sleep patterns, and clients can continue treatment with other providers. Those interested in referring clients can call 918-631-3976, or tu.nightmarestudy@gmail.com. ■

Danielle Zanotti is a fourth-year doctoral student in the clinical psychology program and has been a member of TITAN since her arrival at TU. She received her undergraduate degree from Kansas State University and earned a master of arts in clinical psychology from TU in 2016. She was a member of the K-State basketball team and also coached at the collegiate level for four years.

Although Zanotti enjoyed coaching, she always knew she wanted to pursue a career in psychology. Her mother is a clinical psychologist at the Oklahoma City Veterans’ Administration Healthcare System, and Zanotti sees value in pursuing a career that helps others. Her interest in resiliency and individual responses to adversity made her a perfect fit for TU. She has participated in many levels of TITAN including serving as project coordinator, assessor and clinician for the children’s ERRT study.

Continued ➤

Danielle Zanotti (continued) The project investigates the effectiveness of a brief therapy protocol for children experiencing trauma-related nightmares. She also has been project coordinator for the Student Health, Athletic Performance and Education (SHAPE) project. The program works with TU athletes to develop strategies to overcome adversity and stress while improving physical and mental health functioning as well as enhancing athletic and academic performance. With her athletic background, it’s no surprise SHAPE has become Zanotti’s favorite TITAN project.

“Athletics has its own culture, and I’ve been a part of that my whole life,” she said. “To be involved from an academic standpoint has been really powerful for me.”

For her dissertation, she hopes to work with TU student-athletes to explore the effect of a mindfulnessbased sports psychology approach on mental toughness, resiliency, and performance.

In addition to her research and clinical activities, Zanotti has undertaken a year-long service project through the prestigious Albert Schweitzer Fellowship program,

which aims to support fellows in designing and executing projects addressing systematic health issues within at-risk communities. She has partnered with the Tulsa Coffee Bunker and local veterans to create a parenting program that tackles the unique needs of military families facing the return of a parent following active deployment. Project development is expected to conclude in 2017.

Despite Zanotti’s demanding schedule, she remains an active and engaged member of Associate Professor Lisa Cromer’s Study of Prevention, Adjustment and Resilience to Trauma and Adversity (SPARTA) lab. She is involved in many projects and mentors undergraduate lab members in their research activities and professional development.

After she graduates with a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, her ultimate goal is to complete the necessary post-doctoral training requirements, become licensed and take a clinical position at a community health center. Outside of her academic commitments, she enjoys recreational running, spending time with family and going to concerts at Cain’s Ballroom. ■

Action Projects Each semester, students in Professor Joanne Davis’ Psychology of Trauma class take on projects of their own design to help individuals or groups directly exposed to trauma or experiencing the effects of traumatic events. In the fall 2016 semester, 16 action projects were conducted including the following: • One student works as a Court Appointed Special Advocate.

A CASA is a trained volunteer who is court-assigned to advocate for dependent children placed under the juvenile court’s jurisdiction due to abuse and/or neglect. It is a CASA volunteer’s responsibility to ensure the child’s best interests and needs are being met until he or she is placed in a safe and permanent home.

HOW CAN YOU HELP? Volunteer or Participate in Research Visit orgs.utulsa.edu/titan for more information.

Donations Accepted ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

New iPads or laptops White noise machines Printers Equipment for onsite supervision (Bug in the ear equipment) Projector

• Several students organized a formal dress drive for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The hospital hosts an annual formal dance for patients unable to attend similar events at their own schools. Through the generosity of donors, the hospital provides patients with a wide selection of formal attire to wear on their special night. TU students participate by collecting dresses from the TU community to send to St. Jude’s.

• Two students organized a book drive for the children of Favour Preparatory School in Ghana by placing collaboration boxes and flyers in various locations.

These books were delivered to the school in June 2016.

Yes, I want to support TITAN! Name ____________________________________________________________ E-mail or Phone # ___________________________________________________ I would like to contribute to TITAN _________________________________________________________________ $20

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Make checks payable to: The University of Tulsa And indicate TITAN or The University of Tulsa Institute of Trauma, Adversity & Injustice in the memo.

Gifts may be mailed to: The University of Tulsa, Institutional Advancement, 800 South Tucker Drive, Tulsa, OK 74104

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