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RESEARCH |
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The unifying theme in USC-HEAL projects is to explore why people who are prone to emotional disturbance (e.g., depression) are at greater risk for substance use. Studies extend outward from this area to: (a) genetic influences on substance use; (b) cognitive and motivational processes that underlie addiction; (c) personality, psychopathology, and addiction; (d) effects of drug intoxication and withdrawal on mood, cognition, and behavior; (e) smoking cessation; and (f) emotional determinants of other health behaviors.
Experimental Studies The HEAL conducts externally-funded experimental investigations involving adult participants. Participants attend multiple sessions at our laboratory and complete questionnaires and behavioral tasks. Projects explore: (1) whether personality traits and genes predict response to medications; (2) whether emotional characteristics predict smokers’ reactions to tobacco abstinence and cigarette smoking; and (3) factors that play a role in drug intoxication and drug withdrawal effects.
Survey Studies The HEAL conducts brief studies in which participants complete interviews and/or questionnaires assessing substance use, personality, mood, and other relevant characteristics. Projects explore associations between psychological characteristics and substance use in order to shed light on the etiology of addiction.
Archival Studies The HEAL also conducts secondary analyses of datasets from completed studies. These archival analyses are used to address specific research questions that may not require collection of new data. |
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Health, Emotion, & Addiction Laboratory |
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E-mail: adam.leventhal@usc.edu
Supported by National Institute on Drug Abuse Grants R01-DA026831 and K08-DA025041
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