Psychiatry faculty participated in 21 of 60 applications submitted to the inaugural UW Population Health Initiative (PHI) call for pilot proposals, either as lead investigator or co-investigator. Of the five proposals selected for funding, two involved Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences faculty. The PHI provides up to $50,000 per pilot, augmented by matching funds from some or all of the partner departments. The Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences department offered matching funds to all of the applications led by our faculty.

A team led by Patricia Areán, PhD, and including Deb Cowley, MD, Patrick Raue, PhD, and Anna Ratzliff, MD, PhD, submitted a proposal in partnership with colleagues from Computer Science and Engineering, Social Work, and Psychology. This team will develop an innovative, technology-based educational tool to teach UW social work and psychology undergraduates evidence-based psychosocial interventions. The ultimate goal is to expand the behavioral health workforce, especially in underserved communities.

Deb Kaysen, PhD, and Michele Bedard-Gilligan, PhD, are participating in a proposal led by Lori Zoellner (Psychology) that includes other Psychology faculty and a colleague from the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilization. This team developed the first Islamic-focused intervention for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This six-session, lay-led intervention is founded on Islamic principles central to spiritual, social, family and work life. The program will be pilot tested in Somalia and, if successful, will demonstrate that a low-cost, faith-based intervention can successfully address war- and refugee-related trauma.