Research

Improved Methods of Measurement

To develop and test novel, field applicable methods of blood pressure measurement
To develop and test novel depression assessments for patients with coronary heart disease

To identify depression phenotypes who are at increased risk for acute coronary syndromes
To test behavioral and pathophysiological mechanisms by which these phenotypes might confer risk
To identify cognitive and emotional underpinnings of sustained blood pressure elevation
To study the relationship of emotional factors to, and the effect of emotional expression on, sustained blood pressure elevation, endothelial function, immune system activity, myocardial infarction, and arrhythmogenesis.

To develop and test behavioral interventions for depression, anger, and related emotional factors, with the aim of improving cardiac event-free survival
To develop and test behavioral interventions to increase medication adherence in hypertensive and cardiac patient populations
To develop and test behavioral interventions to reduce blood pressure