The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and the Department of Veterans Affairs released a Request for Applications (RFA-MH-09-060) on April 7, 2008 to find ways to differentiate trauma survivors who will recover naturally from their injuries as opposed to those survivors of trauma who will develop PTSD. There are some problems in approaching the solution to this problem, due to the need to recruit very large symptomatic samples to know whether any given intervention is working.
If researchers are successful in developing effective early interventions, then these methods can become part of routine emergency triage and follow-up care. If this research project produces the intended results, there will then be a clear need for decision tools to be developed to guide clinicians and patients.
The grant funding will enable researchers to look at PTSD risk predictors including family and patient history of mental illness, early adversity, cognitive biases, gender, education, and the nature, severity, and exposure to causes for mental illness.
NIMH is committing $600,000 in fiscal year 2009 to fund 3 awards. Eligible applicants can be public/state/private institutions of higher education, non profits, for profits, small businesses, state, county, city governments, regional organizations, eligible agencies of the federal government, and faith-based organizations. Applications from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
The closing date for applications is August 29, 2008 with the earliest anticipated state date of July 2009.
For more information, go to www.grants.gov or for the link to the full announcement, go to http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-MH-09-060.html.
