Ryan Matlow

All Publications

• Evidence of Differential Prediction of Anxiety and Depression by Diurnal Alpha-Amylase and Cortisol in Development. Developmental psychobiology McCurdy, B. H., Weems, C. F., Bradley, T., Matlow, R., Carrión, V. G. 2024; 66 (7): e22549

  Abstract

  Research and theory suggest an important role of neuroendocrine function in emotional development, particularly under conditions of elevated stress. We provide empirical data to clarify associations between alpha-amylase (AA) and cortisol as well as test the differential linkages among AA, cortisol, and symptoms of anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress in children. Children recruited from a low-income elevated violence community (n = 100; mean age = 10, SD = 0.64; 79% Latino; 67% received free or reduced lunch) were assessed on diurnal levels of AA and cortisol along with assessments of anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). Elevated anxiety symptoms were associated with steeper linear slopes of AA with higher levels of AA in the morning but lower levels of AA in the evening. Depression was associated with differential cubic trajectories of AA when PTSSs were included in the model. Anxiety also predicted differential cubic diurnal trends in cortisol, such that greater anxiety symptoms were associated with relatively higher levels of cortisol in the evening. Again, depression symptoms when PTSS were included predicted diurnal cubic trends with elevated depression associated with lower awakening and midday cortisol that reversed to higher evening cortisol compared to youth with fewer self-reported depression symptoms.

  View details for DOI 10.1002/dev.22549

  View details for PubMedID 39268571

• Program evaluation of a school-based mental health and wellness curriculum featuring yoga and mindfulness. PloS one McCurdy, B. H., Bradley, T., Matlow, R., Rettger, J. P., Espil, F. M., Weems, C. F., Carrion, V. G. 2024; 19 (4): e0301028

  Abstract

  Interest in the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions such as yoga in primary schools has grown. Evidence shows promise, as youth who engage in yoga to promote mindfulness show improved coping skills, increased socio-emotional competence and prosocial skills, academic performance, attention span, and ability to deal with stress.This study reports the results of a program evaluation of a universal health and wellness curriculum, Pure Power, designed to teach youth yoga techniques, mindfulness, and emotion regulation.A non-randomized comparison design examined outcomes among participants from schools that completed the intervention with highest fidelity of implementation (n = 461) and from students in matched comparison schools (n = 420). Standard measures of coping, emotion regulation and emotion dysregulation, spelling, and math achievement were collected.Analyses suggest the youth in the intervention schools demonstrated relative improvement on measures of emotion regulation, spelling, and math.Challenges in implementation in real-life settings are vital to identify. The data provide some real-world evidence for the effectiveness of a universal health and wellness curriculum on emotion regulation and positive academic outcomes. Training school staff to deliver the intervention may foster implementation. Future research should test the effectiveness of who delivers the intervention; for example, teacher-delivered groups vs. other wellness personnel.

  View details for DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0301028

  View details for PubMedID 38574083

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC10994323

• Strengthening Academic Medicine's Response to Humanitarian Concerns. Academic medicine : journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges Matlow, R. B., Roberts, L. W. 2023; 98 (3): 291-293

  View details for DOI 10.1097/ACM.0000000000005124

  View details for PubMedID 36811920

• Pediatric Perspectives and Tools for Attorneys Representing Immigrant Children: Conducting Trauma-Informed Interviews of Children from Mexico and Central America LAWS Matlow, R. B., Shapiro, A., Wang, N. 2023; 12 (1)

  View details for DOI 10.3390/laws12010007

  View details for Web of Science ID 000939956500001

• Impact of anxiety and depression on academic achievement among underserved school children: evidence of suppressor effects CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY McCurdy, B. H., Scozzafava, M. D., Bradley, T., Matlow, R., Weems, C. F., Carrion, V. G. 2022: 1-9

  Abstract

  Anxiety and depression symptoms may leave children at risk for lower academic scores, though this unique linkage to academic achievement in underserved youth is less well established. This study aimed to examine how anxiety and depression are uniquely related to spelling and math achievement beyond attention and hyperactivity deficits in children in underserved schools. Children aged 8 to 11 (n = 1085, 47.3% female) from historically underserved groups (Hispanic 75.3%, American Indian 6.4%, Black 4.9%, and White 1.5%) from 13 schools across two public school districts in California participated in the assessment of emotional and behavioral health symptoms that included a spelling and math assessment. While there was no relationship between anxiety or hyperactivity on spelling and math scores, depression and attention problems were significantly negatively related to spelling and math scores. However, when entered simultaneously, evidence of suppressor effects emerged. Anxiety and hyperactivity both became positively predictive of math. Similarly, anxiety became positively predictive of spelling. Subsample analyses showed that these suppressor effects were only in females. The associations among anxiety, depression, attention, and hyperactivity with spelling and math achievement are complex, and when controlling for depression and attention, anxiety levels and hyperactivity may be motivating some level of achievement in these areas.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s12144-022-03801-9

  View details for Web of Science ID 000862207300004

  View details for PubMedID 36213567

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC9524334

• A school-based health and mindfulness curriculum improves children's objectively measured sleep: a prospective observational cohort study. Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine Chick, C. F., Singh, A., Anker, L. A., Buck, C., Kawai, M., Gould, C., Cotto, I., Schneider, L., Linkovski, O., Karna, R., Pirog, S., Parker-Fong, K., Nolan, C. R., Shinsky, D. N., Hiteshi, P. N., Leyva, O., Flores, B., Matlow, R., Bradley, T., Jordan, J., Carrion, V., O'Hara, R. 2021

  Abstract

  STUDY OBJECTIVES: Poor sleep impedes children's cognitive, emotional, and psychosocial development. Pediatric sleep dysregulation is common, and children who live in communities of low socioeconomic status (SES) experience additional risk factors for short sleep duration and poor sleep quality. School-based training in mindfulness and yoga-informed practices can improve children's behavior and well-being, but effects on objectively measured sleep are unknown.METHODS: Effects of a school-based health and mindfulness curriculum, which taught practices such as paced breathing, on sleep and stress were examined in 115 children (49 girls, ages eight to 11 at baseline). 58 children in a community of low socioeconomic status (SES) received the curriculum twice weekly for two years. 57 children in an SES-matched community engaged in their usual physical education class instead. In-home ambulatory polysomnography and perceived social stress were measured from all children at three timepoints: at baseline (i.e., prior to curriculum exposure) and at two yearly follow-ups.RESULTS: Children receiving the curriculum gained an average of 74 minutes of total sleep time, and 24 minutes of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, per night over the two-year study period. Children not receiving the curriculum experienced a decrease in total sleep time averaging 64 minutes per night, with no changes in REM sleep. Sleep improved within the first three months of curriculum exposure, in a dose-dependent fashion. Higher curriculum engagement (e.g., using the breathing exercises outside of class) was associated with larger gains in total and REM sleep duration. Aggregate within-group changes in social stress were not significant. However, among children receiving the curriculum, those who experienced larger gains in total and REM sleep duration also experienced larger increases in perceived social stress.CONCLUSIONS: A school-based health and mindfulness curriculum improved children's objectively measured sleep over two years. Social stress did not mediate these effects; instead, mindfulness training may have increased awareness of environmental stressors, while developing tools to reduce stress vulnerability.

  View details for DOI 10.5664/jcsm.9508

  View details for PubMedID 34170222

• When Undoing Is Not Enough - Repairing Harms Inflicted on Immigrant Children. The New England journal of medicine Wang, N. E., Matlow, R., Shapiro, A. 2021

  View details for DOI 10.1056/NEJMp2103956

  View details for PubMedID 33951356

• A SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH AND MINDFULNESS CURRICULUM IMPROVES CHILDREN'S OBJECTIVELY MEASURED SLEEP Chick, C., Anker, L., Singh, A., Buck, C., Kawai, M., Gould, C., Cotto, I., Schneider, L., Linkovski, O., Matlow, R., Bradley, T., Carrion, V., O'Hara, R. OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. 2021: A251

  View details for Web of Science ID 000698984300640

• Cue-Centered Therapy for Youth Experiencing Posttraumatic Symptoms. Current treatment options in psychiatry Kletter, H., Matlow, R., Tanovic, S., Carrion, V. 2021: 1–16

  Abstract

  Purpose: Few of the existing evidence-based interventions for child trauma exposure were specifically designed to address experiences and outcomes of complex developmental trauma. Stanford's cue-centered therapy (CCT) was designed to address this gap by offering a flexible, integrative, and insight-oriented treatment approach that is grounded in principles of neuroscience, developmental trauma, client empowerment, and allostasis. This article reviews the CCT rationale, treatment components, evidence base, and training approach.Recent findings: Studies demonstrate promising outcomes indicating CCT effectiveness in reducing child and caregiver posttraumatic stress, and in improving child functioning. Further research, however, is needed to identify which clients are best-suited for CCT (versus other available child trauma treatments) and to identify which components of CCT are most critical for addressing complex developmental trauma.Summary: CCT advances the field of child trauma treatment by offering an intervention approach focused on addressing complex developmental trauma. Positive treatment and training outcomes indicate utility of CCT for clients and clinicians. Innovations in research and training approaches are needed to further dissemination and implementation of CCT and other related child trauma interventions for complex developmental trauma.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s40501-021-00241-3

  View details for PubMedID 33898161

• Equity, Inclusivity, and Innovative Digital Technologies to Improve Adolescent and Young Adult Health. The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine Israni, S. T., Matheny, M. E., Matlow, R. n., Whicher, D. n. 2020; 67 (2S): S4–S6

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.05.014

  View details for PubMedID 32718514

• Patient and community engagement for mental health disparities in Latinx immigrant populations. Community Mental Health Engagement with Racially Diverse Populations edited by Breland-Noble, A. Academic Press. 2020
• Reducing Protections for Noncitizen Children - Exacerbating Harm and Trauma NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE Matlow, R., Reicherter, D. 2019; 380 (1): 5-7

  View details for DOI 10.1056/NEJMp1814340

  View details for Web of Science ID 000454731200003

• General principles of psychotherapy for youth exposed to traumatic stress. Assessing and Treating Youth Exposed to Traumatic Stress Matlow, R. B. edited by Carrion, V. American Psychiatric Association. 2019
• General Principles of Psychotherapy ASSESSING AND TREATING YOUTH EXPOSED TO TRAUMATIC STRESS Matlow, R. B., Carrion, V. G. 2019: 111–28

  View details for Web of Science ID 000549804100006

• Reducing Protections for Noncitizen Children - Exacerbating Harm and Trauma. The New England journal of medicine Matlow, R., Reicherter, D. 2018

  View details for PubMedID 30462590

• Caring for students with mental health issues: Stress and trauma. University Student Mental Health: A Guide for Psychiatrists, Psychologists, and Leaders Serving Higher Education. Matlow, R. B., Carrion, V. G. edited by Roberts, L. American Psychiatric Association. 2018
• Stress and Trauma STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH: A GUIDE FOR PSYCHIATRISTS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, AND LEADERS SERVING IN HIGHER EDUCATION Matlow, R. B., Carrion, V. G., Roberts, L. W. 2018: 249–65

  View details for Web of Science ID 000552225100018

• Creating lab reports on psychological outcomes of political violence in human rights criminal cases: The Human Rights in Trauma Mental Health Laboratory at Stanford University Cambodia's Hidden Scars: Trauma Psychology and the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia Reicherter, D., Reed, D., Williamson, R., Matlow, R. edited by van Schaack, B., Reicherter, D. Documentation Center of Cambodia. 2016; 2: 268–276
• Addressing trauma and attachment in Latino immigrant youth and their families Matlow, R. B., Romero, M. B. International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies. 2016 ; StressPoints: A Quarterly eNewsletter of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies
• The Impact of Appraisals and Context on Readiness to Leave a Relationship Following Intimate Partner Abuse VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN Matlow, R. B., DePrince, A. P. 2015; 21 (9): 1043-1064

  Abstract

  The current longitudinal study examined the relative impact of symptoms and appraisals as well as contextual and demographic factors on women's subsequent readiness to leave a relationship following intimate partner abuse. An ethnically diverse sample of women (N = 177) completed measures assessing posttrauma appraisals, symptoms, dependence on the perpetrator, and abuse characteristics. One year later, women reported on their readiness to leave the relationship. Regression analyses revealed that readiness to leave was (a) positively predicted by fear appraisals, (b) negatively predicted by shame appraisals, and (c) significantly associated with additional contextual factors (i.e., dependence on the perpetrator, stalking behaviors).

  View details for DOI 10.1177/1077801215590668

  View details for Web of Science ID 000358593900001

• The Impact of Appraisals and Context on Readiness to Leave a Relationship Following Intimate Partner Abuse. Violence against women Matlow, R. B., DePrince, A. P. 2015; 21 (9): 1043-64

  Abstract

  The current longitudinal study examined the relative impact of symptoms and appraisals as well as contextual and demographic factors on women's subsequent readiness to leave a relationship following intimate partner abuse. An ethnically diverse sample of women (N = 177) completed measures assessing posttrauma appraisals, symptoms, dependence on the perpetrator, and abuse characteristics. One year later, women reported on their readiness to leave the relationship. Regression analyses revealed that readiness to leave was (a) positively predicted by fear appraisals, (b) negatively predicted by shame appraisals, and (c) significantly associated with additional contextual factors (i.e., dependence on the perpetrator, stalking behaviors).

  View details for DOI 10.1177/1077801215590668

  View details for PubMedID 26077326

• Tobacco Use and Its Treatment Among Young People in Mental Health Settings: A Qualitative Analysis NICOTINE & TOBACCO RESEARCH Prochaska, J. J., Fromont, S. C., Wa, C., Matlow, R., Ramo, D. E., Hall, S. M. 2013; 15 (8): 1427-1435

  Abstract

  BACKGROUND: Youth with psychiatric disorders are at increased risk of tobacco use. Outpatient mental health settings have received little investigation for delivering tobacco treatment. This study obtained formative data to guide development of a tobacco cessation program for transitional age youth with co-occurring psychiatric disorders with a focus on outpatient mental health settings. METHODS: Applying qualitative methods, we analyzed transcripts from interviews with 14 mental health clients (aged 16-23) and 8 mental health providers. RESULTS: The youth identified internal (nicotine addiction and mood), social, parental, and media influences to their use of tobacco. Providers' viewed youth tobacco use as a normative developmental process, closely tied to management of psychiatric symptoms, supported by parents, and of lower priority relative to youth alcohol and illicit drug use. Youth and providers believed that clinicians can do more to address tobacco use in practice and emphasized nonjudgmental support and nondirective approaches. Top recommended quitting strategies, however, differed notably for the youth (cold turkey, support from friends, physical activity, hobbies) and providers (cessation pharmacotherapy, cessation groups, treatment referrals). CONCLUSIONS: Mental health providers' greater prioritization of other substances and view of youth smoking as developmentally normative and a coping strategy for psychopathology are likely contributing to the general lack of attention to tobacco use currently. Integrating care within mental health settings would serve to reach youth in an arena where clinical rapport is already established, and study findings suggest receptivity for system improvements. Of consideration, however, is the apparent disconnect between provider and youth recommended strategies for supporting cessation.

  View details for DOI 10.1093/ntr/nts343

  View details for Web of Science ID 000322093700012

  View details for PubMedID 23322765

• The Influence of Victimization History on PTSD Symptom Expression in Women Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA-THEORY RESEARCH PRACTICE AND POLICY Matlow, R. B., DePrince, A. P. 2013; 5 (3): 241-250

  View details for DOI 10.1037/a0027655

  View details for Web of Science ID 000319307800007