Current Studies at Warriors Research Institute
Our team is dedicated to producing high quality research aimed at improving care for warriors from a variety of fields. The work currently being expounded upon is listed below. If you are interested in participating in any WRI studies or if you have any questions or ideas for future research avenues, please contact us.
Vet PaTHs: Building Peer Support and Telehealth for Central Texas VeteransVet PaTHs: Building Peer Support and Telehealth for Central Texas Veterans
About the Study
Project Vet PaTHs is funded by the Texas Veterans + Family Alliance Grant Program. The goal of this project is to increase accessibility to evidence-based mental healthcare for Texas veterans and veteran family members by addressing critical barriers such as cost, stigma and the availability of qualified, culturally-aware treatment providers.
The WRI will accomplish this using two-pronged service facilitation approach: first, we will adapt and deliver a Peer Support Training to both veteran and veteran family members in order to build a group of Peer Support Specialists that can serve as trouble-shooters and bridges to professional care for veterans in distress in the Central Texas community; second, we will train and supervise a cadre of qualified graduate students to deliver behavioral, evidence-based treatments to veterans via telehealth.
Research Team
Principal Investigator
Co-Principal Investigators
Dr. Sara Dolan
Dr. Eric Meyer
Maxine Trent LPC-S, LMFT-S
Collaborators
Dr. Nate Kimbrel
Alton McCallum, MA, LPC
Research Therapists
Primary Program Manager
Program Manager
Research Assistants
Evaluating the Efficacy of Peer Support Training and Supervision for Texas FirefightersEvaluating the Efficacy of Peer Support Training and Supervision for Texas Firefighters
About the Study
The goal of this study is to provide and evaluate IAFF Peer Support Training within Texas fire departments. WRI will host an IAFF Peer Support Training for three local fire departments and will evaluate the trainees skill acquisition and satisfaction. We will then track the progress of the group over six months.
Research Team
Primary Program Manager
Program Manager
Research Assistant
Peer Support Training Resources
IAFF Peer Support Training Program information »
Presentations
Maness, A. G., Gomez, D. R., Pennington, M. L., Denman, T. C., Thomason, P., Meyer, E. C., Leto, F., & Gulliver, S. B. (2017, November) The Utility of Telephone Supervision in Peer Support Training for Texas Firefighters. Poster to be presented at Texas Psychological Association 2017 Annual Convention, Houston, TX.
Stamp Out Stigma: A National Campaign to Decrease Stigma and Increase Behavioral Health in Fire ServiceStamp Out Stigma: A National Campaign to Decrease Stigma and Increase Behavioral Health in Fire Service
About the Study
The goal of this project is to decrease perceived stigma in relationship to behavioral health programs in fire service through the development and delivery of an evidence-based anti-stigma intervention campaign called STAMP OUT STIGMA (SOS). SOS will collect 12 videotaped testimonials and use them in a livestreamed anti-stigma session to decrease stigma regarding behavioral health issues in fire service.
Publications
Pennington, M. L., Maness, A. G., Gomez, D. R., Thomason, P. M., Denman, T. C., & Gulliver, S. B. (2017, April). Ethics of suicide research: Does asking about suicide increase suicidality in fire service? Poster to be presented at the 5th annual Baylor Scott & White Health Central Texas Research Day, Temple, TX.
Thomason, P. M., Denman, T. C., Gomez, D. R., Pennington, M. P., Maness, A. G., & Gulliver, S. B. (2017, April). Does the context of suicide exposure influence the effects of PTSD in Firefighters? Poster to be presented at the 5th annual Baylor Scott & White Health Central Texas Research Day, Temple, TX.
Research Team
Principal Investigator
Collaborators
Dr. Nate Kimbrel
Dr. Claire Cammarata
Capt. Frank Leto
Lt. William Ostiguy
Dr. Thomas P. Carpenter
Primary Program Manager
Program Manager
Research Assistants
Stigma Intervention Video
Through a FEMA funded study, Warriors Research Institute has developed a stigma intervention curriculum for fire service. The video version of this 1.5 hour long intervention is available here at no cost.
Firefighter Testimonials
First Responder Couples Resilience ProjectFirst Responder Couples Resilience Project
About the Study
This study is an anonymous online survey for firefighters and paramedics regarding their relationships. First, data from this project will fill a gap in the literature by gathering valuable demographic information on marriage and divorce rates and relationship satisfaction in public safety personnel by surveying firefighters and EMS personnel. Second, the study will gather preliminary data on the Couples Resiliency Index (CRI), a measure designed to assess how couples’ dyadic resilience buffers them from stressful life events.
Manuscripts in Development
Sanford, K., Kruse, M. I., Proctor, A., Torres, V. A., Pennington, M. L., Synett, S. J., & Gulliver, S. B. (under review). Couple resilience and life wellbeing in firefighters.
Presentations
Proctor, A., Sanford, K., Kruse, M., Torres, V. A., Pennington, M. L., Synett, S. J., & Gulliver, S. B. (2015, November). Dimensions of Couple Resiliency in a Sample of Firefighters. Poster presented at Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies 49th Annual Convention, Chicago, IL.
Publications
Torres, V. A., Synett, S. J., Pennington, M. L., Kruse, M., Sanford, K., & Gulliver, S. B. (in press). Marital stability in couples employed in high risk occupations: A call for empirically sound investigation. EASNA Research Notes, 5(3).
Research Team
Project RESPONDERProject RESPONDER
About the Study
Project RESPONDER is a current study funded by FEMA in which our aim is to develop a standard operating procedure (SOP) for suicide postvention in Fire Service. In this project, an SOP developed by the New York City Fire Department Counseling Service Unit was expanded upon based on feedback from an expert review group. Next, six focus groups reviewed the SOP, and this feedback was used to create the final product. Currently, investigators are completing final stages of the project. IAFF members can log onto the IAFF website to access study materials at www.IAFF.org.
Publications
Gulliver, S. B., Pennington, M., Leto, F., Cammarata, C., Ostiguy, W., Zavodny C., Flynn, E. J., & Kimbrel, N. A. (2015). In the wake of suicide: Evaluating standard operating procedures for suicide postvention in Fire Service. Death Studies.
Kimbrel, N. A., Pennington, M. L., Cammarata, C. M., Leto, F., Ostiguy, W. J., & Gulliver, S. B. (in press). Is cumulative exposure to suicide attempts and deaths a risk factor for suicidal behavior among firefighters? A Preliminary Study. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behaviors.
Research Team
Principal Investigator
Collaborators
Dr. Nate Kimbrel
Dr. Claire Cammarata
Capt. Frank Leto
Lt. William Ostiguy
Identifying Frequency of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) in FirefightersIdentifying Frequency of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) in Firefighters
About the Study
The purpose of this study is to gather initial data on incidence of mTBI and post-concussive syndrome symptoms in fire service. This in turn will demonstrate whether further study is mandated. If our hypotheses are supported, firefighter quality of life could be improved by identification of mTBI and treatment or clinical management of post-concussive symptoms.
Research Team
Principal Investigator
Mentor
Program Managers
Presentations
Gomez, D. R., Torres, V. A., Thomason, P. M., Denman, T. C., Pennington, M. P., Maness, A. G., & Gulliver, S. B. (2017, April). Sleep problems and posttraumatic stress disorder in fire service. Poster to be presented at the 5th annual Baylor Scott & White Health Central Texas Research Day, Temple, TX.
