NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE - CANCER.GOV

Contact Information

Primary Contact

Pamela Wolters
Co-director, Behavioral Health Core

Location

9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20892

Overview

The Behavioral Health Core (BHC) is comprised of the two separate but interrelated components: 1) Psychosocial Support and Research Program, and 2) Health Psychology and Neurobehavioral Research Program. These teams provide specialized expertise, such as patient-reported and neurocognitive outcome assessments, to support NCI clinical trials and natural history studies. They also develop behavioral science protocols to investigate specific psychosocial and neurobehavioral effects of chronic illness.  

The BHC investigators develop novel assessment tools to evaluate various areas of psychosocial and neurobehavioral functioning that are not being assessed adequately by other measures. If there is a need for a behavioral questionnaire, survey, or interview on a specific topic, they can help investigators choose or develop such a tool.

Examples of patient-reported outcome domains they can assess and assist with include:

  • pain intensity
  • pain interference
  • quality of life
  • physical functioning
  • neurologic symptoms
  • cognitive functioning
  • anxiety or depression
  • family functioning
  • sleep

In addition to clinical research support, the BHC offers clinical and educational services to the patients and families enrolled on studies throughout the NCI and other NIH institutes, including comprehensive neuropsychological assessments; individualized interventions to promote coping with illness and medical procedures, managing pain, adhering to medication regimens, advance care planning, and education/support groups. Furthermore, we provide support and a wellness program to the NCI clinical staff.

We also develop educational resources and therapeutic tools for patients and families. Some tools in various stages of development include:

  • ShopTalk (therapeutic game with 3 versions, one for patients, one for healthy siblings of pediatric patients, and one for children of parents with cancer )
  • Voicing My CHOiCES (advance care planning guide for adolescents and young adults living with a life-limiting illness)
  • When A Cure is No Longer Available (guide for parents and caregivers)
  • DOCK 8 Deficiency Guide for Adolescents (psychoeducational guide for patients on medical and emotional factors of DOCK 8 Deficiency)
  • Providing End of Life Care: A Guide for Staff Supporting Patients and Families (not sure of official title, but this sounds about right!)
  • The Gift of Gerbert’s Feathers (storybook to help children talk about death)


Contacting This Facility: Please refer to the contact details below. Please do not send your request via CREx.

Psychosocial Support and Research Program Director: Lori Wiener, PhD
Phone: 301.451.9148
Email: wienerl@mail.nih.gov

Psychosocial Support and Research Program Child Psychologist: Sima Bedoya, PhD
Phone: 301.451.9110
Email: sima.zadeh@nih.gov

Psychosocial Support and Research Program: Palliative Care Physician: Brian Pennarola, MD 

Email: brian.pennarola@nih.gov

 

Psychosocial Support and Research Program: Adolescent and Young Adult Coordinator: Devon Ciampa, LCSW-C

Email: devon.ciampa@nih.gov

 

Health Psychology and Neurobehavioral Research Program, Director: Pamela Wolters, PhD
Phone: 240.760.6040
Email: woltersp@mail.nih.gov

Health Psychology and Neurobehavioral Research Program, Clinical and Training Director: Staci Martin, PhD
Phone: 240.760.6025
Email: martins@mail.nih.gov

Health Psychology and Neurobehavioral Research Program, Director of Neuropsychology: Robin Lockridge, PhD
Phone: 240-760-7979

Email: robin.lockridge@mail.nih.gov


Health Psychology and Neurobehavioral Research Program, Psychology Associate: Mary Anne Tamula

Phone: 240-760-6033

Email: robin.lockridge@mail.nih.gov

Keywords

Clinical Research Supportnci-ncrneuropsychologychronic painpsychosocial supportpatient-reported outcomes