Published Work
The Fruits of Our Labor
Resting electrocortical activity in adults with dysfunctional anger: a pilot study.
August 19, 2012
Although dysfunctional anger is not a DMS diagnosis, some individuals present with dysfunctional anger, to the exclusion of other psychiatric disorders, as the primary clinical feature. However, our understanding of the neural basis of dysfunctional anger is limited. Though previous work has examined electroencephalographic (EEG) activity in individuals with high trait anger, and in youth with disorders consistent with dysfunctional anger, no studies have assessed EEG activity in adults with dysfunctional anger. This study examined resting EEG by way of relative power in the beta and alpha bands, as well as absolute frontal and parietal alpha(1/2) asymmetry, in 15 adults with psychiatrist-assessed and psychometrically rated dysfunctional anger (Anger) and 14 control participants (Control).
A pilot study of electrocortical activity in dysfunctional anger: decreased frontocortical activation, impaired attention control, and diminished behavioral inhibition.
September 11, 2012
Dysfunctional anger, though not a primary clinical diagnosis per se, does present clinically as a pathological mood for which treatment is sought. Few studies have probed the neurocortical correlates of dysfunctional anger or assessed if cognitive processes, such as attention, are altered in dysfunctional anger. Though dysfunctional and high trait anger appears to be associated with biased processing of anger-eliciting information, few studies have examined if dysfunctional anger modulates attention more generally. This is a notable gap as volitional attention control is associated with effective emotive regulation, which is impaired in dysfunctional anger and in associated acts of aggression. In this pilot study, we examined performance and electroencephalographic (EEG) profiles during a 12-min continuous performance task (CPT) of sustained attention in 15 adults with dysfunctional anger (Anger group) and 14 controls (control group)
The resting electrophysiological profile in adults with ADHD and comorbid dysfunctional anger: a pilot study.
January 24, 2013
Although dysfunctional anger is not a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition, Text Revision [DSM-IV-TR]) diagnosis, it sometimes presents as a primary clinical complaint and as a comorbid feature in a subset of adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). No known studies have examined electroencephalographic (EEG) profiles in adults with comorbid dysfunctional anger and ADHD (ADHD + anger).
Reliability of regression-based normative data for the oral Symbol Digit Modalities Test: An evaluation of demographic influences, construct validity, and impairment classification rates in multiple sclerosis samples.
January 20, 2014
The oral Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) has been recommended to assess cognition for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. However, the lack of adequate normative data has limited its clinical utility. Recently published regression-based norms may resolve this limitation but, because these norms were derived from a relatively small sample, their stability is unclear. We aimed to evaluate the stability of regression-based SDMT norms by comparing existing norms to a cross-validation dataset.
Health-related quality of life in multiple sclerosis: Direct and indirect effects of comorbidity.
March 9, 2016
To evaluate the direct and indirect influences of physical comorbidity, symptoms of depression and anxiety, fatigue, and disability on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS).