Approximately a quarter of injured Emergency Department (ED) patients and those with medical emergencies will develop clinically significant post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, which are often comorbid with additional mental and physical health complaints. Our team focuses on the intersection between psychological health and physical pain and strives towards bringing awareness to the important role that psychological health can play in recovery. We have explored methods to improve psychological screening of ED patients and to determine how secondary interventions can improve both mental and physical health outcomes immediately after injury. We have also explored the psychological health of Emergency care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, we are examining how social determinants of health impact pain and recovery among ED patients. Together, we are developing a program of research that advances acute integrated healthcare to improve recovery from injury or illness.
Ongoing Studies
- Tracking Acute Post-Injury Pain (TAPP)
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Longitudinal cohort study to determine temporal associations between maladaptive psychological processes and the development of chronic pain among motor vehicle crash victims with traumatic musculoskeletal injury (K01 study funded by National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases)
- Pain-Related Disparities in Emergency Department Patients (PRIME)
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Using a mixed-methods design, this project will investigate how intersectionality between a broad range of social determinants of health is associated with disparities in pain management among ED patients throughout Pennsylvania.
- Prehospital Analgesia Intervention trial (PAIN)
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The Prehospital Analgesia INtervention trial (PAIN) is a 4 year (3-year enrollment) multicenter, prehospital, randomized, double-blind, clinical trial that will enroll approximately 1,136 patients at select LITES Network sites. The objective is to perform a prospective, interventional, randomized trial among prehospital trauma patients with compensated shock (SI>0.9) and an indication for pain management, comparing patient centered outcomes following prehospital administration of ketamine hydrochloride versus fentanyl citrate.
- DSUVIA Early Evaluation of Pain (DEEP)
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Randomized, interventional trial of Emergency Department (ED) administration of DSUVIA (sufentanil) versus standard care pain management comparing pain treatment outcomes in injured patients with moderate to severe pain.
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NeuroImmunoEndocrine Interface: Exploring a Unifying Axis for Precision Care in Psychological Health & TBI (NEXUS)
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Exploring how a person’s biology, stress, and resilience to stress can affect recovery after TBI and subsequent risk for psychological health conditions. These nuisances will be studied through blood protein and hormone levels, which naturally fluctuate with the body’s response to stress, as well as through the examination of an individual’s genetic composition. Anticipated results could provide a framework for personalized TBI and PH treatments based on an individual’s stress hormone levels.
Select Completed Studies
Early Screening for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Depression Among Injured Emergency Department Patients: A Feasibility Study
Stephany Jaramillo, Brian Suffoletto, Clifton Callaway, Maria Pacella-LaBarbara | Academic Emergency Medicine (2019)
The Association Between Daily Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and Pain Over the First 14 Days After Injury: An Experience Sampling Study
Maria Pacella-LaBarbara, Jeffrey Girard, Aidan Wright, Brian Suffoletto, Clifton Callaway | Academic Emergency Medicine (2018)
Examining the prevalence and health impairment associated with subthreshold PTSD symptoms (PTSS) among frontline healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic
Bryce Hruska, Daniel Patterson, Ankur Doshi, Maria Guyette, Ambrose Wong, Bernard Chang, Brian Suffoletto, Maria Pacella-LaBarbara | Journal of Psychiatric Research (2023)
A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of the PTSD Coach App Following Motor Vehicle Crash-related Injury
Maria Pacella-LaBarbara, Brian Suffoletto, Eric Kuhn, Anne Germain, Stephany Jaramillo, Melissa Repine, Clifton Callaway | Academic Emergency Medicine (2020)
A longitudinal assessment of posttraumatic stress symptoms and pain catastrophizing after injury
Maria Pacella-LaBarbara, Enzo Plaitano, Brian Suffoletto, Eric Kuhn, Anne Germain, Stephany Jaramillo, Melissa Repine, Clifton Callaway | Rehabilitation Psychology (2023)