Active Studies

Multi-Site
College
Student Study

University of Illinois at Chicago, Appalachian State University, Syracuse University, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Hawaii, University of Northern Iowa, University of South Carolina, University of Southern Mississippi, University of Wyoming

College students with ADHD experience mental health difficulties at greater rates compared to their peers without ADHD. Data is collected from undergraduate students at 8 universities across the US, including UIC, to better understand risk and protective factors for negative outcomes associated with ADHD.

Healthy Minds, Happy Lives

For the past several years, our team has implemented a modified Unified Protocol for students struggling with depression and anxiety. The “Healthy Minds, Happy Lives” program is delivered in a Chicago Public High School that serves predominantly Black and Latino/a/e youth. Adaptations of our program are ongoing and tested iteratively. This project is partially funded through the Committee on Social Science Research at UIC.

Suicide Screening in the UI Health System

This lab project (being led by Julia Lejeune in collaboration with Dr. Brittany Rudd and Leadership in UIC Psychiatry), is examining the feasibility and acceptability of youth suicide screening and intervention that is currently taking place within the UI Health System. The aims of this quality improvement study is to: 1) conduct qualitative interviews with outpatient psychiatry providers in order to better understand their perceptions of the suicide screening and assessment policy; and 2) to analyze visit data collected from the electronic health record (EPIC) to monitor screening and assessment workflow adherence since policy implementation.

Past Studies

Depression Prevention for Adolescents with ADHD
in Schools

MH 117086
MPI: Meinzer & Chronis-Tuscano

Children with ADHD are at elevated risk for depression in adolescence and young adulthood, and this comorbidity is associated with far greater impairment than either disorder alone, including higher rates of inpatient hospitalization and increased risk for suicidal ideation and behavior. In an effort to address the gap between access and utilization of mental health care, which is especially stark among adolescents with ADHD, we aim to develop and test a modified behavioral activation prevention program [Behaviorally Enhancing Adolescents’ Mood in Schools (BEAM-S)].

After conducting focus groups with community stakeholders (e.g., school mental health providers, school administration, adolescents, parents, teachers), a manual was developed and school mental health providers were trained to pilot this prevention program to evaluate preliminary feasibility and effectiveness.