Research

Department of Psychiatry

The OU-TU School of Community Medicine Psychiatry Department is committed to enhancing the mental health of our community by investigating new and improved treatment methods through behavioral and clinical research studies, quality improvement projects, and case reports.

Our investigators are interested in issues such as adolescent depression and mental health, adverse childhood experiences (ACE’s), agitation management in inpatient settings, anxiety, behavior change models for obesity, burn-out, clinic efficiency, insomnia, smoking and medical illness, bipolar disorder, depression, delirium, exercise programs for behavioral health, hepatitis C, nightmares in children, psychotherapy, PTSD, schizophrenia, substance abuse, spirituality and mental health, and women’s health.

Our studies are conducted by research teams comprised of medical doctors, psychotherapists, research coordinators and assistants. Furthering the mission of the OU-TU School of Community Medicine, many of our researchers work in collaborative teams with other departments at the University of Oklahoma and other institutions such as The Laureate Institute for Brain Research, University of Tulsa, Oklahoma State University, and others. We are interested not only in the development of new treatments, but also prevention, education, and the augmentation of already-existing treatment strategies that have the potential to improve the lives of Oklahomans in the communities we serve.

Our research study participants may receive medical and psychiatric evaluations, education, support, and referral for psychiatric illnesses. Participation is always voluntary and completely confidential. A thorough consent process is involved to ensure that participants understand the purpose of the study, procedures involved, and possible risks and benefits of participation. Those who qualify are carefully monitored over the course of participation to ensure their safety and well-being and the effectiveness of their treatment.

For more information about research in the Psychiatry Department, please contact:

Michelle Matukewicz, MHR
Research Program Coordinator
Psychiatry Department
(918) 660-3118
Michelle-matukewicz@ouhsc.edu

Psychiatry Researchers

Ondria Gleason, MD
Professor and Chair

Research Interests:
Dr. Gleason’s research interests include comorbid medical and psychiatric conditions, concurrent depression and hepatitis C, delirium and psychiatric best practices.

Ashley Walker, MD
Professor
Residency Training Director

Research Interests:
Dr. Walker’s research interests include education/training and faculty development, especially in the areas of wellness and neuroscience.

Tara Buck, MD
Associate Professor
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Program Director
Oxley Foundation Chair in Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Research

Research Interests:
Dr. Buck’s research interests include assessment and treatment of pediatric nightmares, neurodevelopmental disabilities including autism spectrum disorder, and quality improvement in graduate medical education for child psychiatry fellows.

Kristy Griffith, MD
Assistant Professor
Medical Director, Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic

Research Interests:
Dr. Griffith’s research and clinical interests include women’s mental health, complimentary alternative medicine for mental health, the interplay of physical and psychiatric health, and unusual manifestations of adverse drug reactions.

Andrew Liew, M.D.
Assistant Professor, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Associate Dean of Undergraduate Medical Education

Research Interests:
Dr. Liew’s research interests include child and adolescent psychiatry and medical student education.

Tessa Manning, MD
Associate Professor
Director, Saint Francis Consultation-Liaison Service

Research Interests:
Dr. Manning’s current research interests include patient agitation in an in-patient psychiatric clinic, and addiction.

Kent Teague, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Research
Professor

kent-teague@ouhsc.edu

Dr. Teague serves as the Assistant Vice President for Research and leads the research efforts at OU-Tulsa. He is also the Associate Dean for Research for the OU-TU School of Community Medicine. Dr. Teague specializes in studying the effects of psychosocial stress and chronic inflammation on the immune system and the downstream effects on health

Bryan K. Touchet, MD
Professor of Psychiatry
Associate Dean of Undergraduate Medical Education and Faculty Affairs

Dr. Touchet’s current research interests are spirituality and mental health, factors affecting progression to indirect supervision among psychiatry interns, and teaching methodology innovations.

Active Research Projects

Buck, TR (Co-PI) Evaluating the Feasibility of a Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Children with Nightmares as a Mediator of Suicide Risk

Buck, TR (Co-PI) - Clinical Outcomes of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Nightmares in Children (CBT-NC) (Clinical Trial)

Buck, TR (Sub-I) - Interprofessional Leadership Education Medium-term LEND Elective Course (Quality Improvement)

Manning, T (PI), Violence and Discrimination Against Psychiatric Trainees

Manning, T (Co-PI)Retrospective Chart Review Evaluating Changes in Healthcare Encounter Rates and Poison Control Center Calls Following Legalization of Medical Cannabis in Oklahoma

Manning, T (PI) – Retrospective Chart Review of Patient Data and Survey Analysis and Patient Perceptions of Safety for Quality Improvement After Implementation of an Agitation Rating Scale in an Adult Inpatient Psychiatric Hospital (Quality Improvement)

Recent Research Publications

Jelley, M. J., Wen, F. K., Miller-Cribbs, J., Coon, K. A., Rodriguez, K.(2020). Adverse childhood experiences, other psychosocial sources of adversity, and quality of life in vulnerable primary care patients. The Permanente Journal, 24(18), epub 277. PMID: 31905334. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7812/TPP/18.277

Miller-Cribbs, J., Bragg, J., Jelley, M. J., Wen, F. K., Coon, K. A., Hank, H., Howell, D., Randall, K., Isaacson, M., Rodroguez, K., Sutton, G. (2020). An Evaluation of a Simulation and Video-Based Training Program to Address Adverse Childhood Experiences. The International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine, 55(5), 366-375. PMID: 32128537. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0091217420951064

Coon KA, Miller-Cribbs J, Wen F, Jelley M, Sutton G. Detecting and Addressing Trauma-related Sequelae in Primary Care. Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2021 Jun 17;23(3):20m02781. doi: 10.4088/PCC.20m02781. PMID: 34139108.

Randall, K., Miller-Cribbs, J., Isaacson, M., Bragg, J., Nay, E., Coon, K. A., Jelley, M., Rodriguez, K., Wen, F. (2020). Using social simulation to teach rehabilitation science students about adverse childhood experiences and trauma informed care. J Allied Health, 49(1), 36-44. PMID: 32128537.

Miller-Cribbs, J., Bragg, J. E., Isaacson, M., Nay, E. D., Howell, D., Rodriguez, K., Wen, F., Jelley, M., & Coon, K. (2021). Evaluation of a Simulation-Based Training Program on Childhood Trauma with Occupational Therapy Students. Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 5 (2). https://doi.org/10.26681/jote.2021.050209

Isaacson, Mary, Coon, K., et al. "Evaluation of a Simulation-Based Training Program on Childhood Trauma With OT Students." American Journal of Occupational Therapy 74.4_Supplement_1 (2020): 7411515384p1-7411515384p1.

Johnson, K.*, Buck, T. R.^# (2020). Complex Case of Conversion Disorder (Functional Neurologic Symptom Disorder): A Case Report. Tulsa, OK: OU-Tulsa Clinical Vignette Symposium.

Helt, A.*, Jack, S.*^#, Buck, T. R.^#, Cromer, L. D.^# (2020). Why do some parents hesitate to sign their children up for treatment studies in clinical psychology? A qualitative study [Poster session]. Tulsa, OK: 23rd Annual Student Research Colloquium, The University of Tulsa (Conference canceled).

Buck, T. R., Walker, A. E. (2020). Child/Adolescent Neuroscience Curriculum Integration: University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine-Tulsa. National Neuroscience Curriculum Initiative [Web].

Manning T, Bartow C, McNaughton M, Reynolds E, Chen Z. Vaping Cannabis Oil: A Case of Catatonia Associated With Use of High-Potency Cannabis. Psychosomatics. 2020 Nov-Dec;61(6):745-751. doi: 10.1016/j.psym.2020.06.012. Epub 2020 Jul 7. PMID: 32771240.

Manning, T. Recent Oklahoma Firearm Legislation is in Opposition to the APA’s Efforts to Reduce Firearm Violence and Suicides in our Community. Oklahoma Psychiatry Newsletter, Winter 2020. Oklahoma Psychiatric Physicians Association. Available at: https://www.oklapsychiatry.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Winter-2020-issue-Oklahoma-Psychiatry.pdf

Manning T, Walker A. The Brain Cookie Exercise: Coronal & Axial Sections. National Neuroscience Curriculum Initiative. Dec 29 2020. Available at: https://www.nncionline.org/course/the-brain-cookie-exercise-coronal-axial-sections/

Manning T, Walker A. The Brain Cookie Exercise for Kids: The Neuron. National Neuroscience Curriculum Initiative. Dec 29 2020. Available at: https://www.nncionline.org/course/the-brain-cookie-exercise-for-kids-the-neuron/

Walker A. What to Say: DoNut Pass Go. National Neuroscience Curriculum Initiative. Nov 17 2020. Available at: https://www.nncionline.org/course/what-to-say-donut-pass-go/

Cooper JJ, Walker AE. Neuroscience Education: Making It Relevant to Psychiatric Training. Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2021 Jun;44(2):295-307. doi: 10.1016/j.psc.2020.12.008. Epub 2021 Apr 29. PMID: 34049650.

Jelley M, Wen F, Miller-Cribbs J, Coon K, Rodriguez K. Adverse Childhood Experiences, Other Psychosocial Sources of Adversity, and Quality of Life in Vulnerable Primary Care Patients. Perm J. 2020;24:18.277. doi: 10.7812/TPP/18.277. Epub 2019 Dec 11. PMID: 31905334; PMCID: PMC6972546.

Randall K, Miller-Cribbs J, Isaacson M, Bragg JE, Nay ED, Coon K, Jelley M, Rodriguez K, Wen F. Using Social Simulation to Teach Rehabilitation Science Students About Adverse Childhood Experiences and Trauma Informed Care. J Allied Health. 2020 Spring;49(1):36-44. PMID: 32128537.

Coffey S, Latta L, Mueller H, Flanders S. Collaboration, Innovation, and Time: A Shared Journey Through Child Psychiatric Consultation in the School Setting. Psychiatr Serv. 2019 Jul 1;70(7):631-634. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.201800429. Epub 2019 May 21. PMID: 31109265; PMCID: PMC6676897.

Cromer, L. D., Stimson, J., Kimrey, M. R., Buck, T. R.(in press2020). The scary truth of nightmare prevalence in a clinical sample of children and teens: Missed diagnoses?. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.

Galmoradi, K., Checketts, J. X.*, Moore, G., Vassar, M., Buck, T. R. (2018). Is the Right Research Being Done to Guide the Development of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry's Practice Parameters? J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry, 57(7), 516-518. PMID: 29960698. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2018.03.018.

Savitz JB, Teague TK, Misaki M, Macaluso M, Wurfel BE, Meyer M, Drevets D, Yates W, Gleason O, Drevets WC, Preskorn SH. Treatment of bipolar depression with minocycline and/or aspirin: an adaptive, 2×2 double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, phase IIA clinical trial.Transl Psychiatry. 2018 Jan 24;8(1):27. doi: 10.1038/s41398-017-0073-7. PMID: 29362444

Walker AE, Fenstermacher E, Ross DA.Telomeres, Trauma, and Training. Biological Psychiatry. 2019 Nov 1;86:e29-e30. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2019.08.019. PMID: 31601364

Arbuckle MR, Travis MJ, Eisen J, Wang A, Walker AE, Cooper JJ, Neeley L, Zisook S, Cowley DS, Ross DA.

Transforming Psychiatry from the Classroom to the Clinic: Lessons from the National Neuroscience Curriculum Initiative. Academic Psychiatry. 2020 Feb;44(1):29-36. 10.1007/s40596-019-01119-6. Epub 2019 Dec 3. PMID: 31797322

Touchet B, Walker A, Flanders S, McIntosh H.

A Pilot Study Examining Factors Influencing Readiness to Progress to Indirect Supervision Among First Year Residents in a General Psychiatry Training Program. Academic Psychiatry. 2018 Apr;42(2):207-211. doi: 10.1007/s40596-017-0801-6. Epub 2017 Oct 5. PMID: 28983854

Liew A, Walker A. What To Say: Poverty, Parenting, and Psychiatry. National Neuroscience Curriculum Initiative www.nncionline.org

Recent Research Posters and Presentations

Gleason, O.C. (2^nd author) - Psychosis During Antiviral Therapy for Hepatitis C: A Case Study. Poster Presentation at the Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry 2018 Annual Meeting

Kovelamudi, MD, A.*, McNaughton, MD, M., Mcclanahan, S. E., Manning, T. L. (2020, May). "SHOCKING RESULTS: A CASE OF MALIGNANT CATATONIA". [Poster presentation]. OU-Tulsa Clinical Vignette Symposium, OU-Tulsa.Walker, AE

McClanahan, S., Gleason, O. [2018, Nov.]. "Harvoni Induced Psychosis". [Poster presentation]. Academy of Consultation and Liaison Psychiatrists.

Walker, AE (Co-Presenter) Intern Year - The Board Game: An Educational Experience for Learning About Physician Wellness, Burnout, and Depression. Workshop at the 2019 APA Annual Meeting, American Psychiatric Association, San Francisco, CA. May 19, 2019.

Walker, AE (Co-Presenter) - Neuroscience Curriculum Development Workshop. Workshop at the Society of Biological Psychiatry 73^rd Annual Meeting, New York, NY. May 9, 2018.

Walker, AE (Presenter) - Competency-Based Behavioral Interviewing: Using a Structured Interview Method to

Enhance Residency and Fellowship Interviews. Workshop at the 48^th Annual AADPRT Meeting, San Diego, CA. March 1, 2019.

Contact Us

For questions regarding research opportunities & resources, please contact the Department of Psychiatry Research Project Coordinator, Michelle Matukewicz, MHR, by email at Michelle-matukewicz@ouhsc.edu or by phone at (918) 660-3118.