In an economy when research dollars and resources in Arizona are scarce, IMHR awarded three grants in May totaling $75,000 to Arizona scientists from Arizona State University and University of Arizona. The grants will fund three research projects: to study emotional resilience in Fibromyalgia patients; to explore ways to improve treatment for psychotic disorders by involving the entire family; and to delve into the increasing problem of nonepileptic seizure disorder. Of nineteen proposals submitted for an exhaustive funding review by outside reviewers as well as a review committee of the IMHR board and an expert advisory board, these three proposals were selected for funding totaling $75,000.

• Mary C. Davis, Professor of Psychology, Arizona State University and a well-known investigator of emotional resilience will be studying resilience and the mind-body question among fibromyalgia patients, specifically studying subjects who cannot attend group studies using telemedicine techniques through web-based intervention. Fibromyalgia presents conditions in soft tissue of its subjects with no identifiable physical evidence. Categorized as a brain disorder regarding how the brain perceives pain or reacts to pain, fibromyalgia is a syndrome that causes its patients to be characterized as not being resilient or able to recover. Dr. Davis and her team will study individuals and how telemedicine affects them and their resilience. Dr. Davis's web-based intervention will be modeled after the best elements of her in-person group intervention using cognitive behavior therapy, health education about pain management and positive event scheduling. Thisstudy will last five years.

• Nicholas Breitborde, Ph.D., assistant professor, Clinical Psychology, University of Arizona College of Medicine, won a $25,000 grant for his study of how psycho education intervention of the family surrounding an individual presenting early psychotic disorders affects the progression of the illness. Dr. Breitborde's study is based on growing evidence that these early interventions can prevent or delay early deterioration in the patient. His hypothesis is that individuals who receive both early group psycho education and cognitive remediation (receipt of problem-solving skills) will be less likely to experience a relapse of psychotic episodes. "Maximizing the positive outcomes facilitated by this intervention may help to reduce the burden that is experienced by individuals early in the course of a psychotic disorder," Breitborde states.

• Finally, the last study to receive $25,000 from the IMHR, is an ASU West study presented by Asst. Professor of Psychology, Nicole A. Roberts. Dr. Roberts's study will investigate an increasing condition known as Nonepileptic seizures or NES. NES are involuntary episodes of movement, sensations or behavior but lack any apparent neurological or medical causes, thus are presumed to have psychological origins. Among the growing population experiencing NES are those returning from war with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. NES is extremely debilitating and yet largely unexplained. Dr. Roberts will examine emotion, an avenue with promise for developing prevention and intervention efforts for its patients.

Final recommendations for the chose proposals were offered by Dr. David Kupfer, MD, Thomas Detre Professor of the Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Marlene Freeman, MD, Staff Psychiatrist, Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Women's Health and Lecturer, Harvard Medical School. Both have been active with the IMHR since its inception in 2004. IMHR Board Chair, Mike Meyer, explained how critical these studies are to improved treatment. "As medicine advances in treatments and cures of serious illnesses such as breast cancer and diabetes, so must our country increase its research dollars to improve our understanding and treatment of mental illnesses," Meyer says. "These diseases are often deadly to the individuals, costly to our health system and incredibly painful to entire families who must live with mental illness." RFPs for 2011 Grants will be released this fall If you are preparing a study or if you know of a researcher who may be interested in submitted a proposal for IMHR's next grant cycle, please visit www.imhr.org this fall to stay informed. Information will also be released via this newsletter.

Researchers share advances, excitement generated

around new studies

Thanks to the generosity of DMB Associates and IMHR board member David O'Donoghue, friends of the institute were treated to an evening of learning and sharing at Silverleaf in Scottsdale. IMHR-funded researchers on hand to share their studies were: Dr. Heather Bimonte-Nelson, ASU; Dr. Richard Lane, U of A; Dr. Kathryn Lemery-Chalfant, ASU; and Dr. Karen Weihs, U of A. Research guests and IMHR Advisory Board members Dr. David Kupfer, University of Pittsburgh and Dr. Marlene Freeman, Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Women's Health also presented. Guests were treated to updates on important research conducted by investigators at Arizona State University and University of Arizona and funded by IMHR. Attending the evening were IMHR board members:

• Dr. Dan Kessler
• Dr. Gary Grove
• Mike and Lauren Meyer

Distinguished guests attending the evening were:

• Chris and Bobbi McMurry
• Eileen and Howard Kornblue
• Dr. Leonora Farrah Suzanne and John Martinson
• Bill and Claire Banchs
• Ralph Andres and Ellen Andres-Schneider
• John and Karen Voris
• Alan Steinberg

Do you want to see more grants for AZ mental health research? YOU can help... Please make a secured donation to IMHR through the Valley Of The Sun United Way. To donate through your campaign use code #2206. In Tucson, make your United Way donation to UW of Tucson & Southern Arizona by using Agency ID #187343. To make a secure donation today, please click the image to make a secure donation today. Thank you for your support of Arizona Mental Health Research!