Behavioral Health

Behavioral health research involves the intersection of health and illness with neurocognitive, emotional, behavioral, psychosocial and family/environmental factors.

More specifically, such research aims to improve our understanding of the impact of health conditions on behavioral outcomes, and the impact of behavioral variables on health outcomes. These studies include a wide range of health conditions, including mental health, and range from descriptive research to randomized trials of interventions to improve health and behavior. Given the pediatric setting, these studies are typically multidisciplinary, often with national or local funding sources.

Examples of behavioral health research underway at Children's Research Institute include:

• Longitudinal study of the impact of pediatric bone marrow transplant on the psychological functioning of recipients and parents.
• Long-term neurocognitive and psychosocial follow-up studies of children treated for cancer and blood diseases.
• Family stress, coping and outcomes following the diagnosis of hypoplastic left heart syndrome in a newborn.
• Evaluation of standardized behavioral treatments of feeding disorders delivered via telehealth.
• Health-related quality of life as patient- and parent-reported outcomes in sickle cell disease.
• Quality of life, coping and psychological symptoms in youth with cyclic vomiting syndrome.
• Longitudinal studies of the neurodevelopmental and psychosocial outcomes of children with congenital heart defects.
• Studies of the effects of various pharmacologic agents on symptoms of psychiatric conditions, such as major depression, bipolar disease or schizophrenia.
• Longitudinal study of functional status, developmental competence and quality of life in children and adolescents with spina bifida.

Through the knowledge gained by behavioral health research, we can better understand the role of psychosocial factors in health and illness. Through empirically supported behavioral treatments, we can help children and families cope with health-related conditions and promote positive outcomes.