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About

Dr. Hollifield held positions at the University of New Mexico and the University of Louisville where he was medical director of biobehavioral oncology and the anxiety disorders program. Most recently he was a research scientist at the Behavioral Health Research Center of the Southwest. Dr. Hollifield received his M.D. from the University of Washington in Seattle, and completed a dual residency training in Family Medicine and Psychiatry at the University of New Mexico. Dr. Hollifield’s primary research interests involve anxiety disorders, the effects of severe trauma and adverse life events on health outcomes, how biological and behavioral factors play a role in the negative effects from trauma and adverse life events, and how clinical interventions can help to alter these biobehavioral factors. Of specific interest are effects of natural disaster on refugees in Sri Lanka after the Asian tsunami, and work investigating the use of acupuncture and imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT) in the treatment of symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). His work with refugees focused on determining the impact that natural disaster has on the psychiatric and somatic well-being of those experiencing such a trauma. Results indicated that such an event negatively impacts a large minority of adults up to 20-21 months after the occurrence. However, his work highlights the positive effect of numerous resilience factors to trauma, such as family support, religious practice, inner strength, and Western medical care. Dr. Hollifield’s research demonstrates the importance of further studies examining long-term impact of and recovery from natural disasters.

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Skills

Experience

Organization
President & CEO

War Survivors Institute

Dec-2016 to Present

Publication

  • dott image June, 2005

Nightmares, insomnia, and sleep-disordered breathing in fire evacuees seeking treatment for posttraumatic sleep disturbance

Eight months after the Cerro Grande Fire, 78 evacuees seeking treatment for posttraumatic sleep disturbances were assessed for chronic nightmares, psychophysiological insomnia, and sleep-dis...

  • dott image March, 2004

Increased Mastery Elements Associated With Imagery Rehearsal Treatment for Nightmares in Sexual Assault Survivors With PTSD

Exposure, abreaction, and mastery have been proposed as the therapeutic processes of nightmare (NM) reduction. Imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT) effectively reduces NMs but involves minimal ex...

  • dott image July, 2002

SLEEP-DISORDERED BREATHING, PSYCHIATRIC DISTRESS, AND QUALITY OF LIFE IMPAIRMENT IN SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS

Using American Academy of Sleep Medicine research criteria, sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) was assessed in a pilot study of 187 sexual assault survivors with posttraumatic stress symptoms....

  • dott image February, 2002

Nightmare frequency in sexual assault survivors with PTSD

Sexual assault survivors with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were assessed for frequency of nightmares, measured retrospectively on the Nightmare Frequency Questionnaire (NFQ) and pro...

  • dott image October, 2001

The Relationship of Sleep Quality and Posttraumatic Stress to Potential Sleep Disorders in Sexual Assault Survivors with Nightmares, Insomnia, and PTS...

Sleep quality and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were examined in 151 sexual assault survivors, 77% of whom had previously reported symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) or slee...

  • dott image August, 2001

Imagery Rehearsal Therapy for Chronic Nightmares in Sexual Assault Survivors With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Context Chronic nightmares occur frequently in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) but are not usually a primary target of treatment. Objective To determine if treating chr...

  • dott image November, 2000

A retrospective study on improvements in nightmares and post-traumatic stress disorder following treatment for co-morbid sleep-disordered breathing

Objective: To assess the impact of treatment for co-morbid sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) on patients with nightmares and post-traumatic stress. Methods: Twenty-three chronic nightmare suf...

  • dott image March, 2000

Sleep Disorder, Depression, and Suicidality in Female Sexual Assault Survivors

The role of sleep in psychiatric illness in general, and depression and suicidality in particular, is poorly understood and has not been well researched despite the pervasiveness of sleep co...

  • dott image February, 2000

A Controlled Study of Imagery Rehearsal for Chronic Nightmares in Sexual Assault Survivors With PTSD: A Preliminary Report

Imagery-rehearsal therapy for chronic nightmares was assessed in a randomized, controlled study of sexual assault survivors with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Nightmares, sleep quali...

  • dott image February, 2000

Sleep breathing and sleep movement disorders masquerading as insomnia in sexual-assault survivors

A descriptive, hypothesis-generating study was performed with 156 female sexual-assault survivors who suffered from insomnia, nightmares, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They compl...