Our projects develop and test streamlined behavioral interventions that work across real-world care settings.
Current projects
Do More, Feel Better: Lay-Delivered Behavioral Activation in Senior Centers
Principal Investigators: Patrick Raue, PhD; Jo Anne Sirey, PhD; Amber Gum, PhD. Research team: Brittany Mosser, Dylan Fisher, Molly Woerner, Cristian Rivera Nales, Ryan Allred.
In response to large numbers of senior center clients who experience untreated depression, and a shortage of geriatric mental health providers, the team simplified Behavioral Activation so it can be delivered by lay volunteers (“Do More, Feel Better”). Behavioral Activation guides clients to re-engage in daily pleasant and rewarding activities and reduce depressive symptoms. If the lay-delivery model proves effective compared with MSW-delivered Behavioral Activation, it could be scaled through a large, untapped workforce of older-adult volunteers nationwide.
Related publications: Raue PJ, Hawrilenko M, Corey M, Lin J, Chen S, Mosser BA (2022), Behavior Therapy 53(3):458–468; Raue PJ, Sirey JA, Dawson A, Berman J, Bruce ML (2019), International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 34(11):1715–1723.
Do More, Feel Better for Spanish speaking older adults
Research team: Brittany Mosser, Cristian Rivera Nales, Dylan Fisher.
A supplement to the Do More, Feel Better project that extends the lay-delivered Behavioral Activation model to Spanish-speaking older adults experiencing depression in community settings, with the potential to demonstrate impact cross-culturally.
MHATS: Enhancing Engagement With Digital Mental Health Care
Principal Investigators: Patricia Areán, PhD; Michael Pullmann, PhD; Tim Althoff, PhD. Research team: Inna Wanyin Lin, Theresa Nguyen, Brittany Mosser, Isabell Griffith Fillipo.
A partnership between Mental Health America, Talkspace, and the University of Washington Schools of Medicine and Computer Science & Engineering to build a digital mental health research platform. The project characterizes optimal engagement with digital treatment and identifies personalized methods to enhance motivation, following at least 100,000 consumers over four years, applying machine learning to identify engagement subtypes, and using micro-randomized trials to test motivational-enhancement strategies.
Related publications: Zech JM, Johnson M, Pullmann MD, Hull TD, Althoff T, Munson SA, Fridling N, Litvin B, Wu J, Areán PA (2023), JMIR Formative Research 7:e41428.
ADAPT: Message-Based Psychotherapy and Digital Treatment Sequences for Depression
Principal Investigators: Patricia Areán, PhD; Derrick Hull, PhD. Research team: Isabell Griffith Fillipo, Brittany Mosser, Molly Woerner.
A partnership with Talkspace comparing unlimited text-based psychotherapy for depression with once-a-week psychotherapy, and determining the best options for people who do not respond well to either. The results inform a message-based model of care that tailors psychotherapy intensity to each person’s needs.
Related publications: Areán P, Hull D, Pullmann MD, Heagerty PJ (2021), BMJ Open 11(11):e046958.
UW L.I.F.E. Measure
Principal Investigators: Patricia Areán, PhD; Brittany Blanchard, PhD. Research team: Brittany Mosser, Nichole Sams.
Using the UW ALACRITY Center’s DDBT framework and human-centered design, the team created a measurement tool to track how close a person is to living the life they want to live, with the goal of helping people achieve their intentions and lead more fulfilling lives.
Searchlight
Principal Investigators: Kate Comtois, PhD; Patricia Areán, PhD. Research team: Brittany Mosser, Nichole Sams, CSPAR Lab.
An investigation into whether everyday internet search behavior can help detect suicidality in time to intervene. The team is also working with people with lived experience to explore the ethics of such a system and the kinds of services people would want offered.
Past projects
If you are an investigator interested in accessing the data sets and study instruments from our past projects, please contact our team. The following studies include data from individual participants pertaining to mood and behavior.
Clinical studies
ADAPT SBIR Phase 1
A randomized clinical trial to determine the best incentive model for retaining participants in a 12-week longitudinal SMART comparing message-based psychotherapy and weekly videoconferencing therapy.
Key personnel: Derrick Hull, Patricia Areán, Mike Pullmann, Patrick Heagerty, Brittany Mosser, Isabell Griffith Fillipo, Shiyu Chen
Talkspace SBIR Pilot Study
A pilot study to determine the feasibility of conducting a 12-week, fully remote randomized clinical trial of message-based versus telephone/video-based psychotherapy.
Key personnel: Derrick Hull, Patricia Areán, Mike Pullmann, Ryan Allred, Shiyu Chen
Engage
A randomized clinical trial comparing the streamlined psychotherapy “Engage” with problem-solving therapy in late-life major depression, studying its mechanism of action and whether community clinicians can achieve and retain competence.
Key personnel: Patricia Areán, Patrick Raue, George Alexopoulos (Cornell)
Engage-T Pilot
A pilot study evaluating the effectiveness of Engage delivered via text messaging through the Talkspace platform.
Key personnel: Patricia Areán, Patrick Raue, Mike Pullmann, Trevor Cohen, Derrick Hull, George Alexopoulos
HIPPOCRATIC App (DARPA)
Development of a human-out-of-the-loop system for participant recruitment, data collection, data handling, and participant management in remote research.
Key personnel: Patricia Areán, Brittany Mosser, Isabell Griffith Fillipo, Molly Woerner
Ilios / GOLD
A randomized clinical trial exploring the effect of psychotherapy and a plasticity intervention on cognitive control network activation, mood, and disability in late-life depression (EVO, WORDS, problem-solving therapy).
Key personnel: Patricia Areán, Joaquin Anguera (UCSF), Faith Gunning (Cornell)
Mobile Mental Health Apps for Essential Workers and Unemployed During COVID-19
A study of the acceptability, feasibility, usability, and effectiveness of mobile mental health apps (7 Cups, Beautiful Mood, Calm, COVID Coach) for addressing suicide-risk factors during COVID-19.
Key personnel: Kate Comtois, Patricia Areán, Mike Pullmann, Felicia Mata-Greve, Brittany Mosser, Morgan Johnson
Patient Activation Pilot Study
A pilot study testing the feasibility and acceptability of a low-intensity psychosocial intervention for mild-to-moderate depression delivered by non-expert behavioral health technicians.
Key personnel: Patricia Areán, Patrick Raue, Brenna Renn, Nichole Sams
Stay Connected: COVID-19 Older Adults Needs Assessment
A national and local survey of older adults about the impact of social isolation during COVID-19 on mental health and well-being.
Key personnel: Patricia Areán, Nichole Sams, CREATIV Lab
TRY Study
A pilot study of whether a neuroscience-inspired cognitive remediation video game (EVO) targeting the cognitive control network improves executive functioning and resilience in typically developing sixth-grade students.
Key personnel: Patricia Areán, Jessica Jenness
ITSUWAC R34 001
Co-design of an Intelligent Tutoring System with students from Heritage University, with pilots at Appalachian State, Azusa Pacific, and USC evaluating social work students using the system in their coursework.
Key personnel: Patricia Areán, Patrick Raue, Brenna Renn, Emily Friedman, Zoran Popovic, Ryan Allred
MontanaUWAC R34 002
Use of DDBT methodology to redesign a task-sharing model of Behavioral Activation with case managers and licensed mental health providers in Montana.
Key personnel: Patricia Areán, Deb Kaysen (Stanford), Emily Friedman, Ryan Allred
Survey studies
Adaptations to Psychological First Aid (PFA)
A study of how PFA has been adopted and adapted across the U.S. to address the mental health needs of health care workers during COVID-19, including usability challenges.
Key personnel: Deb Kaysen (Stanford), Patricia Areán, Patricia Watson (National Center for PTSD), Brittany Mosser, Mike Pullmann, Jed Jacobsen
Citizen Science
A survey of individuals’ thoughts on citizen science and online research communities in the health sciences and big-data research.
Key personnel: Patricia Areán, Brittany Mosser, Felicia Mata-Greve
Cold, Flu, & COVID Attitudes
A survey of attitudes toward public health activities around cold, flu, and COVID and willingness to participate in remote research.
Key personnel: Patricia Areán, Brittany Mosser, Isabell Griffith Fillipo, Shiyu Chen
Consumer Opinions Regarding Online vs. In-Person Psychotherapy
Two surveys asking consumers their opinions about online versus in-person psychotherapy for depression.
Key personnel: Patricia Areán, Brenna Renn
Facebook – Cambridge Analytica
A survey of consumer willingness to participate in online research and share digital data in light of the Facebook/Cambridge Analytica coverage.
Key personnel: Patricia Areán, Abhi Pratap, Ryan Allred, Brenna Renn
Fitness, Wellness, & Mental Health Apps Attitudes
A survey of attitudes toward using fitness, wellness, and mental health apps and willingness to participate in remote research.
Key personnel: CREATIV Lab
Kaiser Provider Survey
A survey of mental health and primary-care clinicians on whether smartphone-derived information could inform treatment decisions, and the best mode of delivering it.
Key personnel: Patricia Areán
Q-RFA: Measuring Psychotherapy Quality
Separate surveys of mental health providers and patients about reactions to methods for measuring psychotherapy quality.
Key personnel: Patricia Areán, Brenna Renn, Ryan Allred
Stay Connected Provider Survey
A survey of providers trained in Stay Connected by the AIMS Center about the acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility of the intervention.
Key personnel: Patrick Raue
Subject Incentives Survey
A survey of the payment methods people prefer for participating in online research studies.
Key personnel: CREATIV Lab