Identify the Etiology and Risk Factors for Pediatric Functional Neurological Disorder (FND)
The etiology of FND remains unclear, and there is scarce research regarding children and adolescents with FND. In this project, we are matching pediatric patients with FND to those without FND based on age, sex, gender and parent income to assess if various factors such as sense of control, selective attention, cognitive inhibition, mental health and health-related quality of life are related to increased risk of FND.
Develop and Validate Retraining and Control Therapy (ReACT) for FND
ReACT is the only pediatric treatment for functional seizures to be demonstrated as efficacious in a randomized controlled trial. We are continuing to assess the target mechanisms by which ReACT is effective and assessing its efficacy in the treatment of other pediatric FND subtypes (tics, other movement disorders, paralysis) and in adults with functional seizures.
Characterize the Role of Short Sleep in Obesity among Adolescents | Funded by NIDDK (K23DK106570) and the America Heart Association
Short-term studies suggest sleep duration may provide a novel, modifiable target to enhance adolescents’ diet adherence and weight loss. While it is often presumed that sustained increased sleep duration improves weight loss, this has not been established. This assumption is based on a few short-term controlled studies and many cross-sectional studies finding correlations between sleep and obesity.
However, controlled studies assessing the efficacy of increased sleep duration sustained longer than 2 weeks are lacking in adolescents. As long-term maintenance of weight loss is poor, novel targets for adolescent weight loss are needed. This project aims to assess the effects of a sleep and media use intervention on adolescents’ weight and body composition as compared to a study skills control intervention.
Determine the role of sleep restriction in cognitive function and food choice in adolescents with overweight and obesity and normal weight | Funded by the National Science Foundation
Adolescents with overweight and obesity are at increased risk for impaired cognitive function. While the causal mechanism of this relationship is unclear, sleep may hold significant influence. For her dissertation, PhD candidate Lindsay Stager is utilizing a randomized cross over design to assess the effects of sleep restriction on cognitive function and food choice in adolescents with normal weight and overweight and obesity.