Research Projects
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Pharmaceutical Companies
Other Projects
Over its 10-year history, the Center has enjoyed continuous funding through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), with total support of over $17.6 million. The following list includes research over the past ten years and some prior studies.
On-Going Studies
Completed Studies
On-Going Studies
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Completed Studies
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National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Pharmaceutical Companies
Other ProjectsOver its 10-year history, the Center has enjoyed continuous funding through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), with total support of over $17.6 million. The following list includes research over the past ten years and some prior studies.
On-Going Studies
Completed StudiesOn-Going Studies
NIH/NIDDK - R24 DK067674 -- Whitehead, Drossman (PI) -- $4.3 million (2004-2009)
- Gastrointestinal Biopsychosocial Research Center
Five-year award beginning July 2004, to foster interdisciplinary research on the interactions among the mind and the body in health and disease, focused on the causes and treatment of functional GI disorders. This will be accomplished through the establishment of a Gastrointestinal Biopsychology Research Center (GBRC) within the UNC Center for Functional GI & Motility Disorders.
NIDDK - R01 DK31369 -- Whitehead (PI) -- $2,178,344 (2002-2007)
- Psychophysiology of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Plus Novartis -- $250,000 (analysis of SERT polymorphisms)
- Total additional funding for prior competitive renewals of this grant (1984-2002) -- $5,256,000
Project One: To determine whether IBS is uniquely associated with specific comorbid conditions, which would suggest shared pathophysiology or an expression of psychological contributions to the etiology of IBS.
Project Two: To determine whether the number of comorbid disorders and symptoms is influenced by the presence of anxiety and depression. And, to determine whether IBS patients with comorbid disorders have more severe IBS symptoms, more impaired quality of life, and more frequent visits to physicians as compared to patients with few or no comorbid conditions.
Project Three: To determine whether IBS patients (defined by Rome II criteria) can be separated into distinct clusters consistent with the existence of multiple independent etiologies for the symptoms of IBS in a large group of patients at two sites.
Prior contracts (1984-2002): The specific aims of four competitive renewals varied, but the general aim was to determine the physiological and psychological mechanisms responsible for the development of IBS symptoms, and to investigate how psychological and physiological factors interact to produce IBS symptoms. The first award focused on the role of visceral pain thresholds and whether this represents a biological marker for IBS vs. a perceptual response bias that reflects the influence of psychological factors. Subsequent studies focused on the role of selective attention and related cognitive traits.
NICHD & NIDDK - R01 HD36069 - Whitehead (UNC PI) -- $202,048 (2003-2007)
- Intergenerational Transmission of Illness Behavior
- Initial award of $280,322 (1999-2003)
- PI: University of Washington in Seattle (parent grant) - Rona L. Levy
The aim of this grant is to carry out a randomized controlled trial to evaluate social learning and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) treatment for Recurrent Abdominal Pain (RAP) that is based on data collected in the initial grant.
Aims of the initial grant were to investigate psychological and cognitive factors which contribute to the tendency for IBS to run in families.
NICHHD - U10 HD412267 - Visco (PI), Whitehead (Col) -- $2,569,084 (2001-2006)
- Pelvic Floor Disorders Network
(1) To compare different surgical techniques for the repair of pelvic organ prolapse in the CARE study. (2) To assess the incidence of fecal and urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction following external and sphincter disruption during childbirth in the CAPS study.
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NIDDK - R01 DK57048 - Whitehead (PI) -- $816,485 (1999-2004)
- Biofeedback for Fecal Incontinence and Constipation
(1) To establish the efficacy of behavioral treatments for fecal incontinence. To identify predictors of successful treatment outcomes. (3) To establish the efficacy of behavioral treatments for outlet dysfunction type constipation. (4) To identify predictors of successful outcomes for constipation.
NIDDK - RO1 DK49334 - Drossman (PI) -- $4,123,665 (1995-2002)
- Multi-Center Trial of Functional Bowel Disorders
Phase III treatment trial: (1) To compare the efficacy of cognitive behavioral and antidepressant treatments for patients with moderate to severe functional bowel disorders. (2) To determine the significant physiologic, clinical and psychosocial predictors of outcome at the end of treatment and at one-year follow-up. (3) To determine whether bowel symptom severity prior to treatment is related to pain threshold, muscle tone, or motility in response of rectal distention. (4) To determine whether symptom improvement with treatment is correlated with changes in physiological parameters.
Office of Research on Women's Health - Supplement to R01 DK31369 - Whitehead (PI) - approx. $150,000 (1993-1996)
- Impact of Sexual Abuse on Visceral Pain Sensitivity in IBS
This was a supplement to the "Psychophysiology of IBS" grant (listed above), to perform an additional study on the impact of sexual abuse history on visceral pain thresholds. Innovations in this study included the first use of signal detection to distinguish perceptual sensitivity for visceral pain from perceptual response bias.
NIH/NIDDK - R01 MH46959 - Drossman (PI) -- $844,476 (1991-1995)
- Abuse/Psychosocial Factors in Patients with GI Disorders
(1) To determine among female in the GI clinic population the prevalence of childhood and adult sexual and physical abuse. (2) To determine the relationship of abuse with baseline measures of psychosocial status, medical and psychological symptoms, and health care utilization. (3) To determine the predictive role of abuse history and other psychosocial variables on health outcome (symptoms, functional status, health care utilization).
NIDDK - RO1 AM29934 - Drossman (PI) -- $345,136 (1983-1986)
- The Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Characterizing the Patient
This study was designed to psychologically characterize patients with IBS compared to non-consulters (those who did not see a doctor for their symptoms) and matched control subjects. The study found that psychological distress is not part of IBS per se, but is associated with health care seeking.
NIMH - K05 MH00133 - Whitehead (PI) -- approx. 1,188,000 (1988-1999)
- Role of Perception in Control of Visceral Responses
This was a senior Research Scientist Award which provided salary support for full-time (at least 80%) research. This grant provided no project costs. See R01 grants for description of the scientific content.
NIMH - K01 MH00133 - Whitehead (PI) - approx. $442,368 (1978-1988)
- Role of Perception in Control of Visceral Responses
This was a Research Scientist Development Award which provided salary support for full-time (at least 80%) research. It led up to the application for a Research Scientist Award (see above). This grant provided no project costs. See R01 grants for description of the scientific content.
NCNR - R01 NR01369 - Whitehead (PI) - approx. $939,600 (1987-1990)
- Learned Illness Behavior and Nursing Intervention
The primary aim of this study was to investigate the psychosocial factors that contribute to the aggregation of IBS within families. IBS patients were compared to patients with dysmenorrheal. Additional aims were to investigate the difference between IBS patients who consult physicians and those who manage their IBS without medical assistance.
NICHD - R01 HD14519 - Whitehead (PI) - approx. $626,400 (1980-1982)
- Psychophysiological Reactions to Touch
The aim was to investigate a reflex first described by Horsley Gantt in which touching slows heart rate and has a calming effect. In adults, we showed that the reflex occurred at all ages and was independent of whether the touching was done by a same-sexed or opposite-sexed person, but it was influenced by hand temperature. In children, we showed that the reflex (holding) could be used to reduce phobias and eliminate chronic vomiting in institutionalized infants with rumination syndrome.
NICHD - RR01 NS15781 - Whitehead (PI) - approx. $783,000 (1979-1982)
- Behavioral Medicine Treatment for Fecal Incontinence
This study investigated the treatment of fecal incontinence in children with myelomeningocele (spina bifida) through behavioral and biofeedback techniques. We also investigated the level of spinal cord lesion, completeness of lesion, and stool characteristics as predictors of which children would benefit.
NIMH - R01 MH19979 - Renault (PI), Whitehead (Col) - approx. $72,000 (1972-1973)
- Operant Conditioning of Gastric Acidity in Humans
This grant enabled us to develop a technique for operant conditioning (biofeedback training) of gastric acid secretion in healthy subjects. The aim was to develop a method of treating peptic ulcer disease. Although healthy subjects were able to learn to modify gastric acid secretion, it was not found to be a practical approach to treating ulcers, especially with the advent of histamine blockers at about this time.
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