In this Bell Works Talks, Dr. Nicole Short discusses findings from a large, multisite, prospective observational cohort study on the prevalence of acute and persistent pain post-sexual assault, and how posttraumatic stress symptoms may account for the transition from acute to chronic pain. She will focus on the clinical implication of these findings for healthcare providers working with sexual assault survivors.

Nicole A. Short, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She earned her PhD in clinical psychology from Florida State University in 2019 after completing her clinical internship at the Charleston Consortium. Dr. Short’s research focuses on the etiology and prevention of trauma and anxiety-related disorders utilizing a translational approach. She is interested in identifying and characterizing cognitive-affective and other risk factors (e.g., anxiety sensitivity, sleep disturbance) for the development of posttraumatic stress and related symptoms (e.g., substance use disorder); better understanding how these risk factors relate to underlying biological processes; and utilizing this knowledge to develop novel preventions and treatments for these disorders, particularly by leveraging technology-based interventions. She is especially interested in improving mental health and substance use outcomes post-sexual assault. She has published over 70 peer-reviewed articles in these areas, and has received funding from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), American Psychological Foundation, and MayDay Fund to support her work. Clinically, Dr. Short is a licensed psychologist focused on cognitive behavioral treatments for posttraumatic stress, anxiety, and sleep disturbance, as well as comorbid chronic pain.

Resources:

Short, N. A., Tungate, A. S., Bollen, K. A., Sullivan, J., D'Anza, T., Lechner, M., ... & McLean, S. A. (2022). Pain is common after sexual assault and posttraumatic arousal/reactivity symptoms mediate the development of new or worsening persistent pain. Pain, 163(1), e121-e128.

McLean, S. A., Soward, A. C., Ballina, L. E., Rossi, C., Rotolo, S., Wheeler, R., ... & Liberzon, I. (2012). Acute severe pain is a common consequence of sexual assault. The Journal of Pain, 13(8), 736-741.

Ulirsch, J. C., Ballina, L. E., Soward, A. C., Rossi, C., Hauda, W., Holbrook, D., ... & McLean, S. A. (2014). Pain and somatic symptoms are sequelae of sexual assault: results of a prospective longitudinal study. European journal of pain, 18(4), 559-566.

Better Tomorrow Network: https://www.med.unc.edu/itr/better-tomorrow-network/