Health and Behavior Research Branch
Overview
The Health and Behavior Research Branch supports research on a range of health behaviors in people with mental disorders. Research is supported on identifying potent, modifiable risk and protective factors for mental disorders that may guide the development and initial testing of theory-driven interventions. Interventions may be prevention, treatment, or rehabilitation and include biological, pharmacological, behavioral, psychosocial, or environmental components. Research is supported on co-morbid mental and other physical disorders, adherence to interventions for mental disorders, ethics in mental disorders research, mental disorders stigma and discrimination, mental health disparities, health behavior change in people with mental disorders, and functional assessment in people with mental disorders.
Branch Chief
Peter R. Muehrer, Ph.D.
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 6230, MSC 9615
301-443-4708, pmuehrer@mail.nih.gov
Areas of Emphasis
- Identifying the potent, modifiable mechanisms and processes linking mental and medical illnesses (comorbidity) and developing early stage interventions.
- Translating findings from basic behavioral research into processes to improve adherence to treatment, discourage harmful behaviors associated with mental disorders and physical disorders, and promote therapeutic alliances and help-seeking behaviors.
- Identifying effective strategies for reducing mental illness stigma and discrimination, and examining the mechanisms through which they work.
- Studying cognitive processes, decision-making, and other basic behavioral and social processes to clarify factors that influence the choice of treatment or mental health services, acceptance or denial of illness, and coping response to stigma.
- Developing behavioral strategies for assessing mental health functioning and disability.
- Using findings from basic behavioral and social sciences research to elucidate factors involved in mental health disparities.
