# Primary-Care Based Mindfulness Intervention for Chronically Traumatized Individuals

> **NIH NIH K23** · EMORY UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $134,986

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Rates of repeated exposure to trauma and levels of trauma-related psychiatric disorders in low-income, urban
minority communities far exceed national averages. Despite this, inadequate access and substantial barriers to
treatment in urban traumatized populations remain. Mindfulness-based interventions may target emotion
dysregulation and dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system, mechanisms that contribute to trauma-related
psychiatric outcomes like posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD). In line
with the strategic goals of the NCCIH to improve care for hard-to-manage symptoms, the purpose of this study
is to pilot a primary-care based mindfulness intervention for chronically traumatized African Americans
screening positive for PTSD and MDD in primary care clinics within an urban public hospital. The study will
utilize a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design along with a multi-method psychological and physiological
assessment approach to establish the feasibility and acceptability of a [mindfulness-based cognitive therapy
intervention for primary care (MBCT)] versus wait-list control in African Americans with chronic trauma
exposure and comorbid PTSD and MDD. Also in line with the strategic goal of NCCIH to advance
understanding of mechanisms underlying mind-body intervention approaches, preliminary mechanisms of
action and change in outcomes associated with MBCT including emotion dysregulation, autonomic function,
and PTSD and MDD symptoms will be evaluated. The data collection and [8-session] group intervention will
take place in primary care clinics within an urban public hospital serving primarily low-income, minority
individuals (>80% African American). Training activities will take place in an academic medical setting under
the umbrella of a broader project aimed at understanding psychological and biological risk factors for PTSD.
Training goals for this K23 project include 1) learning how to design, implement, and evaluate the outcomes of
complementary and integrative behavioral health interventions, 2) [gaining enhanced training in mindfulness
and integrated care], 3) learning longitudinal data analytic techniques, and 4) gathering and analyzing
psychophysiological variables and integrating psychophysiological data into treatment research. Ultimately,
career goals for the applicant include working to improve treatment for underserved civilian trauma populations
in urban settings by taking a complementary integrative health perspective and enhance understanding of
mechanisms of change in the context of trauma-related treatment. Bringing measures of objective
physiological markers like autonomic function into primary care settings in the context of behavioral health
treatments will also aid in our understanding of the biological mechanisms that may change as a result of these
treatments and how those underlying biological mechanisms can positively impact health outcomes long te...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9989048
- **Project number:** 5K23AT009713-03
- **Recipient organization:** EMORY UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Abigail Powers Lott
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $134,986
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-08-01 → 2022-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9989048

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9989048, Primary-Care Based Mindfulness Intervention for Chronically Traumatized Individuals (5K23AT009713-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9989048. Licensed CC0.

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