STUDY BASICS
Are you 18-21 years old? If so, you may be able to take part in a research study to help better understand how a parent’s cancer diagnosis affects young adults. Compensation is provided.
STUDY PURPOSE
Experiencing stress during young adulthood can lead to physical and mental changes. In some cases, stress can contribute to the development of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and suicidal thoughts. Researchers do not fully understand why some people who experience stress go on to develop mental illness and others do not. The purpose of this study is to better understand how stress from a parent’s cancer diagnosis affects the biological, emotional, and behavioral well-being of young adults. Researchers will compare participants who do and do not have a parent diagnosed with cancer, and hope their findings will lead to better ways to prevent and treat mental illness brought on by stress.
COULD THIS STUDY BE RIGHT FOR YOU?
- Ages 18-21
- Do not have a parent with a diagnosis of cancer or any other chronic illness
- Have not lost a parent or sibling in the past 2 years
- Have not been diagnosed with Cushing’s syndrome or Addison’s disease
- Not pregnant
WHAT PARTICIPANTS CAN EXPECT
Participation involves an initial visit, and two follow up visits at 6 and 18 months. You will be asked to complete an interview and questionnaires, provide blood, hair, and saliva samples, have blood pressure and heart rate assessed, and have physical measurements. It is important to know that participants who do not have a parent with a cancer diagnosis are age-matched to participants who do have a parent with a cancer diagnosis. This means that you may meet all eligibility criteria for the study, but may not be able to participate in the study if you do not match to a participant in the cancer diagnosis group.
IRB: STUDY19110085D
- Biomarkers in the HPA axis and inflammatory pathways for maladaptive stress response in childrenMEET THE RESEARCHER
Nadine Melhem
Nadine M. Melhem, PhD, MPH, is associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Trained in psychiatric genetic epidemiology, Dr. Melhem has a long history of working in research and a special interest in studying the impacts of stress and trauma on children and families.