Developing an Advanced Technology for Emotion and Affective Change ePlatform (AT-REACH) for People Recovering from Substance Use Disorders
Led by Dr. Dennis McChargue
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Study Overview:
The current proposal aims to create and test a novel web-based and smartphone accessible emotional regulation training for homeless recovering from substance use disorders that reside in residential treatment facilities. After creating the ePlatform training app using co-creation methods with stakeholders and computer scientist in Year 1 (Aim 1), researcher will test the hypothesis that a somatic avatar training practiced and reinforced daily across time (30 days) via the smartphone accessible ePlatform will produce greater improvements in emotion regulation skills as compared with a recall only control condition (Aim 2). To accomplish this goal, we will recruit 40 residential treatment participants (20 male; 20 female) across 8 months in Year 2 of the grant. Lastly, we aim to qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate the usability, accessibility, and potential applicability of the emotion regulation training among study participants and treatment staff following the RCT. This project will provide foundational evidence of a novel treatment paradigm applied to a marginalized population at high risk of relapse due to emotion dysregulation challenges.
Specific Aims:
The current application is viewed as an essential capacity building effort critical to developing a program of research in just-in-time, adaptive interventions (JITAI)29 that operantly condition adaptive coping behaviors. The overarching aim is to create a highly secure ePlatform where CRF residents access a socially and individually reinforced emotion regulation intervention via a mobile device. The ePlatform specific aims are three-fold through using mixed methods and a co-creation process with stakeholders (residents and treatment staff):
(Aim 1): Develop prototype of a mobile accessible emotion regulation ePlatform with assessment, access, and interactive capabilities using feedback from focus group interviews with stakeholders. (Yr1)
(Aim 2): Collect Phase I RCT feasibility data that the ePlatform via mobile delivery enhances and reinforces adaptive emotion regulation abilities through daily emotional processing practice among 40 residents (20 male; 20 female) across a four-week period. (Yr2)
(Aim 3): : Qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate perceptions of acceptability, usability, and applicability of the mobile accessible ePlatform emotion regulation training from stakeholders. (Yr2)
Study Sample Population:
Community Members who reside in a transitional living facility for those recovering from substance use disorders.
Unique Study Procedures:
Employing a novel phone app that reinforces emotion regulation skills taught in yoga training. The use of animated digital humans that represent the emotions experiences in the yoga training. Uploading animated digital humans on AT-REACH app for emotional process to evoke somatic memories of yoga training.
Long-Term Goals:
To develop a process of reinforcing and expanding emotion regulation practices with a person’s nature environment using mhealth technologies. Establish a mhealth treatment that reduces relapse risk among those recovering from substance use disorders.
Dr. Dennis McChargue
Project Director
Dr. McChargue is a Professor of Psychology and Director of Clinical Training for the Clinical Psychology Training Program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Dr. McChargue received his doctoral training at Oklahoma State University with a clinical psychology internship at the Boston VAMC Consortium, which houses one of the National Centers for PTSD. He was later a postdoctoral fellow and research faculty member with a joint appointment at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the Hines VAMC. Dr. McChargue’s primary expertise is in understanding biobehavioral mechanisms that bind substance use with mental illness and hinder recovery from substance use patterns.
Use of Omega-3 Fatty Acids to Inhibit Drug-Induced Inflammation and Synaptic Alterations
Led by Dr. Jana Ponce
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Study Overview:
Repeated exposure to psychostimulants, including methamphetamine (METH), induces a chronic inflammatory state and synaptic alterations which are associated with psychological and behavioral deficits as well as neurodegenerative diseases. Emerging evidence suggests an essential role for neuroinflammation3 and synaptic plasticity in promoting addiction-related brain and behavioral deficits for which there are currently no effective pharmacological treatments. This study aims to research how omega (n)-3 fatty acids (FA) impact behavioral deficits through resolution of inflammation and synaptic alterations in people suffering from METH-substance use disorder (SUD), a population at risk for both n-3 FA deficiency and neuroinflammation. Our overarching hypothesis is dietary n-3 FA mitigates METH-induced neuroinflammation, synaptic alterations and subsequent behavior changes.
Specific Aims:
(Aim 1): Determine if dietary n-3 FA supplementation mitigates METH-induced systemic inflammation.
(Aim 2): Investigate the impact of n-3 FA supplementation on mechanisms associated with chronic METH-induced synaptic alterations and behavior changes.
Study Sample Population:
These preclinical experiments will be conducted in male and female Sprague Dawley rats (24 males and 24 females).
Unique Study Procedures:
Sprague Dawley rats will be randomly assigned to receive either normal diet (ND) or enhanced diet (ED). For the latter, soybean oil from the base diet is replaced with an oil containing omega-3 fatty acids, providing the animals with approximately 1.4% of their total caloric intake strictly from the omega-3 fatty acid DHA.
Long-Term Goals:
The long-term goal of this research are to identify novel mechanisms associated with neuroinflammation and resulting behavior change in order to develop non-invasive, non-addictive and low-cost therapeutic intervention strategies for individuals with SUD.
Dr. Jana Ponce
Project Director
Dr. Jana Ponce is a Registered Dietitian and an Assistant professor in the Medical Nutrition Education Division of the College of Allied Health Professions at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska. Her background is in clinical nutrition with a current research agenda focused on the impact of nutrition interventions in improving neurologic outcomes and inflammation in chronic disease.
The Serotonin 5-HT2AR, a Novel Non-Opioid Target for Opioid Use Disorder
Led by Erik Garcia
University of Nebraska Omaha
Study Overview:
This project seeks to uncover a non-opioid target that is 1) functionally unaffected by chronic administration of oxycodone and 2) able to reduce the reinforcing value of oxycodone. Together these properties would have the capability to decrease the abuse potential of prescription opioids.
Specific Aims:
(Aim 1): Determine the functional status of the 5-HT2AR following oxycodone exposure.
(Aim 2): Uncover the efficacy of the 5-HT2AR to exert control of oxycodone reinforcement.
Study Sample Population:
These preclinical experiments will be conducted in male and female rats..
Unique Study Procedures:
This project utilizes strong behavioral neuropharmacology experiments to provide insights into the neural mechanisms of opioid reinforcement. Dr. Garcia will use statistical modeling and theoretical frameworks borrowed from behavioral economics to analyze the extent to which the 5-HT2AR modifies oxycodone consumption.
Long-Term Goals:
The long-term goal of this project is to develop a new class of selective and therapeutically useful 5-HT2AR small molecules for the treatment of opioid use and substance use disorders. The pilot grant will reveal the extent to which the 5-HT2AR reduces oxycodone reinforcement value. This project will have a lasting impact because prescription opioids are effective analgesics but have the potential for abuse. These experiments may reveal that 5-HT2AR drugs could be used to reduce the abuse potential of prescription opioid medications, making them safer for chronic use.
Erik Garcia
Project Director
In Fall 2021, Dr. Garcia started his career as Assistant Professor of Neuroscience and Behavior at the University of Nebraska Omaha. He researches the neurobiological mechanisms that dictate the consumption of rewards and reinforcers. After completing his doctoral degree in Experimental Psychology (Behavioral Neuroscience), he went to the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston to complete his postdoctoral training. There in the laboratory of Kathryn Cunningham, Ph.D., he researched serotonin and other G protein-coupled receptors families. Dr. Garcia helped reveal a novel series of 5-HT2CR and 5-HT2AR allosteric modulators that alter high-fat food consumption and cocaine and fentanyl relapse.