Vanderbilt University · PsychologyKujawa MentalHealth Lab
Autumn J Kujawa · Nashville, Tennessee
Research Focus
Dr. Autumn J. Kujawa's lab focuses on understanding the psychological and biological factors that influence suicidal behavior in adolescents and postpartum depression in new mothers. By investigating how neural reward systems interact with social stressors, the lab aims to identify predictors for these challenges and develop intervention strategies. Overall, this research seeks to improve mental health outcomes for at-risk youth and mothers.
suicidal behaviorpostpartum depressionneural reward systemsadolescentsmental health interventionspsychosocial stresspositive valence systemsinterpersonal relationshipsclinical assessmentslongitudinal studies
Research Aims
5AIM 01Characterize patterns of reward valuation associated with suicidal behavior histories in high-risk youth.
AIM 02Examine neural measures of reward valuation as prospective predictors of suicidal behavior post-discharge.
AIM 03Investigate the interplay between neural reward valuation and interpersonal factors in predicting suicidal behavior.
AIM 04Assess trajectories of positive valence systems function across the peripartum period as predictors of postpartum depression.
AIM 05Explore the relationship between positive valence systems function and mother-infant interaction quality.
Skills the Lab Values
neuroimaging techniquesclinical assessmentsecological momentary assessmentdata collection and analysisparticipation in longitudinal studiespsychological evaluationshormone level assessmentbehavioral observationsstatistical modelinginterview techniques
Output against the department
Publications170top 43% of dept.126th of 296
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations5.6kbottom 48% of dept.155th of 296
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.