Studies
Project Listing
- The Metastatic Project
- The Wellness Study
- The Peer Navigator Study
- Trier Social Stress Task
- Shame and Guilt
- Marital Interaction
↑ The Metastatic Project
Aim
To examine the emotional expression and emotional resonance to specific topic discussions in supportive-expressive group therapy for women with metastatic breast cancer who were part of a randomized clinical trial examining the effect of group therapy on survival. Goals included examining the effect of behavior in the groups on change in physiology, emotional well-being, and survival.
2000-2005 |
Co-Investigator for competing renewal NIMH Sponsored Grant: Effects of Psychosocial Treatment on Cancer Survival ($2,000,116 competitive renewal of a randomized trial of supportive-expressive group therapy): Emotion Coding of Videotaped Group Psychotherapy. David Spiegel, M.D. P.I. |
1996-1998 |
Wrote and was awarded a Postdoctoral Fellowship as a part of larger John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Mind/Body Network Grant: The Impact of Emotional Expression on Social Support and Group Interaction in Metastatic Breast Cancer Support Groups. Mentor: David Spiegel, M.D. Stanford School of Medicine |
1995-1997 |
Wrote and was awarded a Postdoctoral Fellowship Grant from the Breast Cancer Research Program of California: Does Change in Emotional Expression Mediate Cancer Survival? |
Publications
- Giese-Davis, J., DiMiceli, S., Sephton, S., & Spiegel, D. (2006). Emotional expression and diurnal cortisol slope in women with metastatic breast cancer in supportive-expressive group therapy Biological Psychology, 73(2), 190-198.
- Giese-Davis, J., Piemme, K. A., Dillon, C., & Twirbutt, S. (2005). Macro-variables in affective expression in women with breast cancer participating in support groups. In J. Harrigan, K. R. Scherer & R. Rosenthal (Eds.), Nonverbal behavior in the affective sciences: A handbook of research methods (pp. 399-445). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
↑ The Wellness Study
Aim
This study evaluated the strengths and weaknesses of two community-based support group interventions for breast cancer patients (The Wellness (TWC) and Cancer Support (CSC) Communities, in the San Francisco area). We compared them with a type of therapy developed in the university setting (Stanford’s Supportive-Expressive group therapy), studied which aspects are most effective, and who benefits the most.
We compared these women on change in emotional distress, means of coping with cancer, and social and family support. In addition, change in physiological response to stress was measured using saliva samples. We also examined the role of emotional expression and topic discussions in distinguishing the group styles and response to treatment.
We also examined coded emotional expression from videotape with transcripts of these group sessions to determine whether information is lost when going to a text-only format. We also compared the emotional expression in the TWC videotapes with TWC Online synchronous groups.
Funding
2001-2004 |
Consultant for Breast Cancer Research Program of California Grant: Effectiveness of Internet vs. Face-to-Face Support Groups ($500,000 3-year randomized Community/Research Collaboration) Mort Lieberman, Ph.D. and Mitch Golant, Ph.D. P.I.s |
1998-2002 |
Lead Writer and Co-Investigator/Project Director for Breast Cancer Research Program of California Grant: Do Community Cancer Support Groups Reduce Physiological Stress? ($500,000 3-year randomized Community/Research Collaboration): David Spiegel, M.D. P.I. |
1999-2000 |
Co-Investigator for Breast Cancer Research Program of California Grant: Effectiveness of Electronic Support Groups for Breast Cancer. ($100,000 1-year pilot Idea Grant) Morton Lieberman, Ph.D. and Mitch Golant, Ph.D. P.I.s |
Publications/Presentations
-
Ellis, W., Giese-Davis, J., Lieberman, M., Golant, M., Simon, J., & Spiegel , D. (2002). Emotional expression and therapist behavior in online vs. Face-to-face breast cancer support groups: a comparative study,\. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Behavioral Medicine., Washington, D.C.
-
Golant, M., Lieberman, M., Giese-Davis, J., Winzlenberg, A., & Ellis, W. (2004). Emotional expression and facilitation of online vs. face-to-face breast cancer support groups. Psycho-Oncology, 13(1), S18-S19 Suppl.
-
Liess, A., Ellis, W., Giese-Davis, J., Gruenstein, A., Golant, M., & Spiegel, D. (2004). Emotional information available from videotapes vs transcripts. Ann Behav Med, 27, Supplement, S008.
-
Liess, A., Ellis, W., Yutsis, M., Owen, J., Piemme, K. A., Golant, G., Giese-Davis, J. (In Preparation). Detection of emotional expression in face-to-face and online breast cancer support groups. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology.
↑ The Peer Navigatior Study
Aim
We conducted both an observational study and a clinical trial of a 6-month peer-counseling intervention testing outcomes for both newly diagnosed women (Sojourners) and peer counselors (Navigators) as a first step toward the goal of validating a peer navigator program.
We videotaped an initial listening/disclosing exercise for the peer counselors during their training session, and continued to code this exercise over time throughout the clinical trial. Our goals were to examine whether a particular type of emotional expression during listening or disclosing about themselves would be related to outcomes for themselves and their Sojourners.
Funding
2001-2006 |
Lead Writer and Co-Investigator for Breast Cancer Research Program of California Grant: Does a Peer Navigator Improve Quality of Life at Diagnosis? ($500,000 5-year randomized Community/Research Collaboration) David Spiegel, M.D. P.I. |
2000-2001 |
Lead writer and Co-Investigator/Project Director Breast Cancer Research Program of California Grant: Does a Peer Navigator Improve Quality of Life at Diagnosis? ($100,000 1-year pilot Community/Research Collaboration). David Spiegel, M.D. P.I. |
Publications/Presentations
-
Giese-Davis, J., Bliss-Isberg, C., Carson, K., Donaghy, J., Star, P., Batten, C., et al. (2002, April). Peer Counselors in a training session provide accurate predictions of who will be an effective peer navigator. Paper presented at the The Annual Meeting of the Society for Behavioral Medicine, Washington, D.C.
-
Giese-Davis, J., Bliss-Isberg, C., Carson, K., Star, P., Donaghy, J., Cordova, M., et al. (2003, March 19-22, 2003). Does a peer navigator improve quality of life at diagnosis for women with breast cancer? Paper presented at the The Society of Behavioral Medicine's 24th Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT.
-
Giese-Davis, J., Bliss-Isberg, C., Carson, K., Star, P., Donaghy, J., Cordova, M. J., et al. (2006). The effect of peer counseling on quality of life following diagnosis of breast cancer: an observational study. Psycho-oncology, 15(11), 1014-1022.
-
Giese-Davis, J., Bliss-Isberg, C., Wittenberg, L., Yutsis, M., Star, P., Cordova, M., et al. (2005, Sept. 9-11, 2005). Does a Peer Navigator Improve Quality of Life at Diagnosis? Paper presented at the California Breast Cancer Research Program's 2005 symposium, "From Research to Action: Seeking Solutions", Sacramento, CA.
-
Giese-Davis, J., Golant, M., & Angell, K. (2002, March, 2002). Community-research collaborations: How to reach more of the people more of the time with evidence-based interventions. Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the Society for Behavioral Medicine, Washington, D.C.
↑ Trier Social Stress Task
Aim
As part of a large program project grant, "Stress, the HPA, and Health in Aging," http://stressandhealth.stanford.edu/, a Trier Social Stress Task was conducted in which participants from 2 studies were asked to undergo as social stressor while we examined their physiological response and videotaped their performance. These participants were from a study of metastatic breast cancer patients and of men and women who were depressed and at risk for cardiovascular disease conducted by C. Barr Taylor. Our goal in videotaping was to examine whether emotional expression was related to the physiological function of participants.
Funding
2001-2006 |
Co-Investigator for N.I.A./N.C.I Sponsored Diurnal Cortisol, and Breast Cancer Survival and Research Coordinator for N.I.A./N.C.I. Program Project Grant: Stress, the HPA, and Health in Aging. ($8,000,000) Program Project. David Spiegel, M.D. P.I. |
Publications/Presentations
-
Giese-Davis, J., Taylor, C. B., O' Hara, R., & Spiegel , D. (2006, March 22−25, 2006). Stress, the HPA, and health in aging. Paper presented at the Society of Behavioral Medicine’s 27th Annual Meeting San Francisco.
-
Giese-Davis, J., Wilhelm, F. H., Conrad, A., Abercrombie, H. C., Sephton, S., Yutsis, M., et al. (2006). Depression and stress reactivity in metastatic breast cancer. Psychosomatic medicine, 68(5), 675-683.
-
Giese-Davis, J., Yutsis, M., & Spiegel , D. (2006, March 22−25, 2006). Repression, cortisol, and stress reactivity in women with metastatic breast cancer. Paper presented at the Society of Behavioral Medicine’s 27th Annual Meeting San Francisco.
-
Taylor, C. B., Conrad, A., Wilhelm, F. W., Neri, E., DeLorenzo, A., Kramer, M. A., Giese-Davis, J., Roth, W.T., Oka, R., Cooke, J.P., Kraemer, H.C., Spiegel, D. (2006). Psychophysiological and cortisol responses to psychological stress in depressed and non-depressed older men and women with elevated CVD risk. Psychosomatic Medicine, 68, 538–546.
↑ Shame and Guilt
Aim
Our goals in this study were to examine whether we self-conscious emotions are important in the recovery of women with breast cancer. We also wanted to transfer a technology for coding shame and embarrassment to our system and wanted to examine whether there other facial, body, voice, and content cues for shame, guilt, embarrassment, and pride that are important in the naturalistic conversation of these women?
Funding
2003-2005 |
Principal Investigator for Breast Cancer Research Program of California Grant Assessing the Impact of Shame and Guilt in Recovery? ($100,000 1 1/2 year-IDEA Grant) David Spiegel, M.D. CO-P.I. |
Publications/Presentations
-
Allen, R. M., Giese-Davis, J., Piemme, K., & Twirbutt, S. (2005, September 9-11, 2005). Pride and depression in primary breast cancer: Eliciting pride and examining facial expression. Paper presented at the Annual California Breast Cancer Research Program Conference, Sacramento, CA.
-
Giese-Davis, J., Yutsis, M., Nouriani, B., & Spiegel, D. (In Preparation). Pride Following An Acute Stressor Associated With Healthier Physiology.
-
Giese-Davis, J., Yutsis, M., Piemme, K., & Twirbutt, S. (2005, September 9-11, 2005). Assessing the impact of shame and guilt on recovery. Paper presented at the Annual California Breast Cancer Research Program Conference, Sacramento, CA.
↑ Marital Interaction
Aim
Our goals in this study were to conduct a randomized trial of a combination of mindfulness meditation, Tibetan compassion training, and emotion modules created by Paul Ekman, Ph.D. in a population of teachers.
The coding lab's role in this study was to code the emotional expression of the women participants while they participated in a marital interaction task to discuss disagreements in their relationship before and after receiving the intervention which will be compared with the marital interaction of the women in the wait-list control group.
The aim is to see whether behavior can change after this intervention in the emotionally difficult situation of arguing with a romantic partner.
Funding
2002-2006 |
Consultant for Fetzer Grant: Cultivating Emotional Balance In Challenging Times, Margaret E. Kemeny, Ph.D. and Paul Ekman, P.I.s. My lab is conducting the emotion coding of the marital interaction task within this randomized study. My role is as consultant and lead writer of articles coming from analysis of this task |