Nicole R. Nugent

Nicole Nugent, M.A.

342 Kent Hall

Psychology Department

Kent State University

Ph 330/672-5322

Email nnugent@kent.edu

Dissertation Title: The Efficacy of Early Propranolol Administration at Preventing/Reducing PTSD Symptoms in Child Trauma Victims: Pilot

Involved in all aspects of research investigating the psychophysiological predictors and correlates of PTSD in traumatized children. Presently implementing a double-blind, placebo-controlled investigation of propranolol as a secondary intervention for the prevention of PTSD in children exposed to trauma. Provided training for clinical students in the administration of the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM-IV (SCID), the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS), and the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for Children and Adolescents (CAPS-CA).

2000-2001 Colorado Division of Criminal Justice, Office of Research and Statistics

Evaluated inpatient drug and alcohol treatment programming throughout the state of Colorado. Conducted semi-structured follow-up interviews of offenders; carried out focus groups in prisons and residential facilities; observed and evaluated programming; co-wrote a SAMHSA grant for treatment for mentally ill substance abusers in the criminal justice system; co-wrote report of drug and alcohol treatment programming.

Conducted a series of experiments designed to test the effects of eye movements on cognitive and affective processes. Specifically, integrated research and theory on thought suppression, stream of consciousness, and terror management theory in an investigation of the effects of eye movements on terror management.

Advisors: Josephine Wilson, Ph.D., Patricia Kaminski, Ph.D., and Jenifer Butler, Ph.D.

Served as undergraduate research assistant and teaching assistant for Social Psychology and Research Methods courses to Jenifer Butler, Ph.D. Research responsibilities consisted primarily of library research, data entry, and some involvement in initial research design. Also conducted an independent research study examining the effects of media on male body image in undergraduates under the supervision of Patricia Kaminski, Ph.D.; completed an honors research project in which I investigated the effects of caffeine on aggression in rats under the supervision of Josephine Wilson, Ph.D.

Fresco, D.M., Williams, N., & Nugent, N.R. (In Press). Association of Explanatory Flexibility and Coping Flexibility to Each Other and to Depression and Anxiety. Cognitive Therapy and Research.

Nugent, N.R., Christopher, N.C., & Delahanty, D.L. (2006). Emergency medical service and in-hospital vital signs and subsequent PTSD symptoms in pediatric injury. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.

Nugent, N.R., Christopher, N.C., & Delahanty, D.L. (2006). Initial physiological responses and perceived hyperarousal predicts subsequent emotional numbing in child trauma victims. Journal of Traumatic Stress.

Delahanty, D.L., Nugent, N.R., Christopher, N.C., & Walsh, M. (2005). Initial urinary epinephrine and cortisol levels predict acute PTSD symptoms in child trauma victims. Journal of Psychoneuroendocrinology, 30(2), 121-128.

Buckley, B., Nugent, N.R., Sledjeski, E., Raimonde, A.J., Spoonster, E., & Delahanty, D.L. (2004). Initial cardiovascular predictors are not related to PTSD. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 17, 317-324.

Delahanty, D.L., Nugent, N.R. Predicting PTSD prospectively based on prior trauma history, trauma severity, and immediate biologic responses. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, Estimated Release Date: September 2006.

Nugent, N.R., Christopher, N.C., & Delahanty, D.L. (2005, November). Initial Biological Response and Emotional Numbing in Pediatric Injury. Paper presented at the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies in Toronto, Canada.

Nugent, N. R., Christopher, N., Ostrowski, S. & Delahanty, D.L., (2004, November). Moderation of acute psychophysiological predictors of PTSD in children. Paper presented at the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies in New Orleans, LA.

Ostrowski, S., Nugent, N.R., Christopher, N.C., & Delahanty, D.L. (2004, November). Parent and child psychophysiological responses to a child’s trauma. Paper presented at the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies in New Orleans, LA.

Christopher NC, Nugent NR, Delahanty DL, Walsh M. (2004, May). Initial urinary epinephrine and cortisol levels predict acute PTSD symptoms in survivors of severe trauma during childhood. Presented at a Platform session at the Pediatric Academic Society Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA.

Nugent, N. R., Delahanty, D.L., Christopher, N., & Kantaak, S. (2003, March). Relationships between initial post-trauma hormone levels, parental distress, and PTSD symptoms in child trauma victims. Paper presented at the American Psychosomatic Society in Phoenix, AZ.

Delahanty, D.L., Nugent, N.R., & Christopher, N. (2002, November). Initial hormonal predictors of psychopathology in child trauma victims. Symposium presented at the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies in Baltimore, MD.

Nugent, N.R., Christopher, N.C., & Delahanty, D.L. (2006, March). Differential pattern of acute biological response to trauma in children with disruptive behavior. Poster presented at the American Psychosomatic Society in Denver, CO.

Nugent, N.R., Christopher, N.C., & Delahanty, D.L. (2005, November). Factor structure of the CAPS-CA in a Pediatric Injury Sample. Poster presented at the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies in Toronto, Canada.

Nugent, N.R., Christopher, N.C., & Delahanty, D.L. (2004, November). Emotional numbing and physiological arousal in child trauma victims. Poster presented at the Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy in New Orleans, LA.

Nugent, N.R., Delahanty, D.L., Christopher, N., & Buckley, B. (2003, October). Initial cardiovascular predictors and PTSD in child accident victims. Poster presented at the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies in Chicago, IL.

Buckley, B., Nugent, N.R., Sledjeski, E., Delahanty, D.L., Raimonde, A.J., & Spoonster, E. (2003, March). Initial cardiovascular predictors are not related to PTSD. Poster presented at the American Psychosomatic Society in Phoenix, AZ.

Sledjeski, E., Delahanty, D., Buckley, B., Nugent, N., Raimonde, A.J., & Spoonster, E. (2003, March). Peritraumatic urinary cortisol levels predict the development of acute stress disorder. Poster presented at the Annual American Psychosomatic Society Meeting, Phoenix, AZ.

Nugent, N.R., Fresco, D., M., & Williams, N. L. (2002, November). The association of cognitive flexibility and coping flexibility to each other and to depression and anxiety. Poster presented at the Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy in Reno, NV.

Sledjeski, E., Delahanty, D., Nugent, N., Buckley, B., Raimonde, J., & Spoonster, E. (2002, November). Urinary norepinephrine levels are associated with peritraumatic dissociation. Poster presented at the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies annual meeting, Baltimore, MD.

Nugent, N. R., & Becker, L.A. (2000, November). The effects of trauma and death priming on rumination. Poster presented at the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies in TX.

American Psychological Foundation Elizabeth Munsterberg Koppitz Travel Stipend (2006). $4,000 toward the presentation of research that is recognized as advancing “knowledge and learning in the field of child psychology”.

ISTSS Student Research Grant (2004). $1,000 presented by the International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS) for the proposal judged to have the greatest potential to contribute to the field of traumatic stress.

Ellin Bloch and Pierre Ritchie Honorary Scholarship (2003). $1,500 presented by the American Psychological Association of Graduate Students to fund dissertation research in the area of crisis management.

ISTSS Student Poster Presentation Honorable Mention (2003). An award presented at the ISTSS 2003 annual meeting based on overall quality of presented posters.

Lee A. Becker Innovations in Psychology and Science Scholarship (2001). Awarded by the Spencer Curtis Foundation recognition of outstanding performance in psychology.

Bethlehem Steel Award (1998) Awarded to the outstanding senior in psychology at Wittenberg University.

Virgil E. Rahn Memorial Award (1997) Honors the outstanding junior in psychology at Wittenberg University with the most potential to make a significant professional psychological contribution.

Junior-level undergraduate course with 40 students. All aspects of the course were independently developed and carried out, including selection of course materials, development and provision of lectures, and creation of exams. Exams included multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, matching, and short answer items.

Junior-level undergraduate course with 5 students; developed and carried out curriculum tailored to improve student writing skills, critical thinking, and research abilities.

Sophomore-level undergraduate course with 300 students. Independently developed and carried out curriculum including lectures, class discussion, multiple-choice exams, and supplemental reading materials.

Junior-level undergraduate course with 140 students; autonomously developed and carried out curriculum including lectures, class discussion, multiple-choice exams, and a topical project.

High school SAT preparatory course with 12 students; carried out lectures, reviewed homework assignments, and led activities structured to improve student performance on the SAT. Also completed Princeton Review training to teach the GRE and GMAT.

Fall 1998 Introduction to Psychology: Teaching Assistant to Dr. Lee Becker

Undergraduate, introductory self-paced course with 100 students; graded exams and provided individualized instruction.

2002; 2004 Cognitive Health Faculty Search Committee, Graduate Student Representative

2004-2005 Autism/Asperger’s Programming at the Akron Children’s Neurodevelopmental Center (10 hrs weekly; 9-mo rotation)

Collaboratively developed programming for and co-facilitated school-aged and adolescent social skills groups that used reinforcement systems as well as overt teaching to promote positive social behaviors in children diagnosed with Asperger’s; group was based on social skills programming for autism-spectrum disorders developed at the Cleveland Clinic. Provided supervised individual and family interventions for children/adolescents with autism-spectrum disorders. Conducted testing (ADOS, Vineland), completed interviews (joint interview with pediatric neurologist), and dictated integrated diagnostic reports as part of an interdisciplinary clinic for assessment of autism-spectrum disorders.

2002-2005 Kent State Eating Disorders Specialty Practicum (Ranging from 2-10 hrs weekly)

Conducted short- and long-term individual psychotherapy with clients with EDNOS and comorbid disorders. Conducted family/individual treatment with a pediatric obesity case. Interventions were eclectic and embedded in both cognitive-behavioral and interpersonal process frameworks with particular emphasis on techniques of motivational interviewing, elements of DBT, and conceptual models proposed by Fairburn.

Inpatient and Partial Hospitalization Programs (25 hrs weekly; 6-mo rotation)

Provided individual, group, and family psychotherapy as well as psychoeducational and DBT skills groups for adolescents with a variety of psychological disorders. Involved in program development and created DBT skills handouts and homework, a promotional video of staff, and a compilation of adolescent-appropriate experiential activities that could be processed as related to DBT skills.

Pediatric Psychology Consultation/Liaison (10 hrs weekly; 6-mo rotation)
Supervisors: Georgette Constantinou, Ph.D. & Victoria Meier, Psy.D .

Conducted supervised individual and family inpatient and outpatient therapy. Treatment with cases focused on interventions targeted at reduction of behavioral concerns via parenting training/family intervention, addressing pediatric and family adjustment to chronic/acute illness, and addressing coping with past traumatic experiences. Consultation work spanned pain management, assessment/intervention with eating psychopathology, intervention with children/adolescents and their families around adjustment to acute/chronic illness, and the provision of support as well as parenting training. Participated in sickle cell clinic consultation and assessment.

Completed neuropsychological assessments related to a variety of referral questions including concerns about attentional difficulties, possible learning disorders, and cognitive impairments secondary to traumatic brain injury. Completed supervised test administration, scored tests, and completed neuropsychological reports.

Conducted family and adolescent group psychotherapy with clients with a variety of behavioral and clinical disorders. Primarily implemented Triple P parenting training strategies as well as a systems framework in family therapy. Used a combination of cognitive-behavioral techniques in adolescent group psychotherapy.

2002-2004 Kent State Psychological Clinic General Practicum (5-15 hrs weekly)

Clinical duties supervised by David Fresco, Ph.D., Richard Hirschman, Ph.D., John Akamatsu, Ph.D, Beth Wildman, Ph.D.

Provided short- and long-term individual psychotherapy for clients with a variety of adjustment and clinical disorders including mood and anxiety disorders, substance abuse, eating disorders, and Axis II disorders.

Conducted semistructured clinical interviews (SCID), administered psychological tests (e.g., MMPI-2; WAIS-III; sentence completion; TAT), and completed brief and comprehensive reports.

Completed neuropsychological assessments for two adults and one child who were referred for concerns related to academic performance. Administered, scored, and interpreted WAIS-III, WJIII, CELF-4, NEPSY, Delis Kaplan, Rey Complex Figure Task, Wechsler Memory Scale, Wisconsin Card Sort Test.

Provided short- and long-term individual psychotherapy, group co-therapy, and consultation and outreach. Clients presented with a variety of adjustment, personality, and clinical disorders and treatment was conducted from an interpersonal psychotherapeutic approach with an integration of cognitive-behavioral techniques. Consultation and outreach activities included conducting smoking cessation, date rape awareness, and college binge drinking presentations to residence hall students as well as articles for the campus paper, consultation with residence assistance staff regarding a variety of concerns, and a weekend diversity retreat.

Diagnostic and Medical Assessment in Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (2005). Participated in a full-day course on the impact of medically treatable gastrointestinal, neurological, and genetic or metabolic disorders on development, behavior and education in AS children. Hosted by the Cleveland Clinic and featured presentations by Marvin Natowicz, Timothy Buie and Margaret Bauman.

Level 4 Standard Triple P Training (2003). Participated in a three-day training and half-day certification for standard Triple P treatment, an empirically-validated manualized behavioral intervention to assist parents in successfully responding to a range of childhood behavior problems.

Level 5 Enhanced Triple P Training (2003). Participated in a two-day training and half-day certification for enhanced Triple P treatment, an empirically-validated program for assessment and treatment of multi-problem families with interventions tailored to meet families’ individual needs.

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for the Prevention of Depression Relapse (2002). Participated in a three-hour workshop on the application of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in the prevention of depression relapse in adults completed by Zindel Segal.

Prolonged Exposure Therapy (2002). Participated in a three-hour workshop on psychotherapy for patients with PTSD conducted by Edna Foa.

Contemporary Approaches to the Treatment of Missing or Incomplete Data (2001). Completed a half-day pre-meeting institute at a meeting of ISTSS during which maximum-likelihood based approaches to the treatment of missing data were discussed. The program was conducted by Lynda King and Daniel King.

Assessment of PTSD using the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS; 2001). Completed a half-day pre-meeting institute at a meeting of ISTSS that provided comprehensive instruction in competencies for reliably assessing symptoms and diagnosing PTSD using the CAPS. The training was completed by Miles McFall, Dudley Blake, and Patricia Watson.