1. PTSD and Positive Memories

My research examines the role and significance of positive memories in PTSD's symptomatology and treatment. We have developed a conceptual model outlining hypothesized effects of focusing on positive memories on post-trauma mental health (primarily PTSD symptoms). In my empirical investigations of PTSD-positive memory relations, I have found (1) beneficial effects of processing positive memories on PTSD, cognitions, and affect; (2) negative relations of the number of positive memories with PTSD severity and negative cognitions/affect; and (3) relations of greater PTSD severity with less positive valence, vividness, coherence, accessibility, and sensory details of positive memories, and with more psychological distance from positive memories. Drawing from such empirical evidence and based on formative data gathered from therapy-seeking clients and trauma clinicians, we have developed a 5-session manualized intervention focused on positive memory retrieval and processing uniquely tailored to PTSD symptomatology (Processing of Positive Memories Technique). I have pilot tested PPMT with 12 trauma-exposed community participants recruited from the University of North Texas Psychology Clinic; findings provide signal of beneficial impacts of PPMT on PTSD severity and affect as well as indications of feasibility of PPMT.

2. Cultural influences on PTSD's symptomatology

My research also examines the intersection of cultural factors and PTSD symptomatology. I am primarily interested in examining psychometric properties of PTSD measures in different cultural groups, as well as the presentation/expression of PTSD symptoms and their intervention in the South Asian community. Via funding from UNT, I (PI/Co-PI) conducted research to examine (1) military mental health in India, and (2) mental health needs, barriers, and preferences among Asian Indians in DFW. These projects have indicated that patterns of PTSD's relation with depression is different among Asian Indians compared to patterns observed in Western samples; and enculturated Asian Indians have concerning mental health symptoms with barriers to seeking mental health treatment; results have implications for India-specific mental health initiatives and reforms. Relatedly, I have conducted community-based research among Asian Indians both in their country of origin as well as in the United States (specifically DFW) to examine the nature of traumatic experiences and post-trauma outcomes endorsed by this community. Hereby, I utilized culturally-responsive recruitment strategies (e.g., considering stigma around mental health research), culturally-sensitive data collection processes, and trained students in cultural competency and humility.

3. Mechanisms of PTSD's comorbidity with depression and reckless behaviors

My third line of research investigates the symptom dimensions and transdiagnostic mechanisms driving the observed comorbidity between PTSD and depressive disorders and between PTSD and reckless behaviors. This line of research also examines the role of transdiagnostic constructs, such as positive memory processes, accounting for PTSD's relation with depression. Further, this line of research examines transdiagnostic constructs (e.g., impulsivity, emotional dysregulation) driving the relation between PTSD and reckless behaviors, such as substance use.

4. Heterogeneity in PTSD symptomatology

My fourth line of research examines diversity in symptom presentations and profiles which differentially influence PTSD's course, diagnostic rates, comorbidity patterns, response to treatment, and the specificity/non-specificity of PTSD's symptom clusters. My work also identifies subgroups of individuals with differing PTSD symptom type/severity. For instance, I have found support for a depression subtype of PTSD (subgroup with higher PTSD and depression compared to other subgroups) and an impulsive/reckless subtype of PTSD (subgroup with greater PTSD and impulsive/reckless behaviors compared to other subgroups).

5. Heterogeneity in traumatic experiences

Finally, my research examines the nature and count of traumatic experiences in relation to posttrauma mental health, and the construct validity of subgroups based on patterns of endorsed traumatic experiences.