Welcome to Duek Stress & Epidemiology Lab
The lab focuses on the mental, psychological, and cognitive effects following exposure to stressful events
Our Research Focus:
PTSD, Epidemiology & Neuroscience
The intersection of psychology and public health, understanding the epidemiological implications of stress exposure on individuals and communities. A common sequela to traumatic events is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a condition that has significant public health ramifications. My primary focus lies at the intersection of Epidemiology and Psychology. I am keen on studying the symptomatology and neurobiological underpinnings of PTSD, its mechanisms of progression, as well as the cognitive and behavioral consequences of stress exposure in broader populations. This aligns with a public health perspective, promoting understanding of the prevalence, distribution, and control of PTSD and stress-related disorders in the population.
Research Projects:
Evaluation of short-term recall and reprocess therapy for PTSD
This longitudinal cohort study examines the effectiveness of a novel short-term therapy for PTSD. The study involves clinical assessment of participants and their matching with appropriate therapists to determine the impact of the intervention. The primary objective is to evaluate the effectiveness of a new therapy aimed at alleviating PTSD symptoms within a week. The study incorporates physiological measurements of activity, sleep, and heart rate to establish a better understanding of the mechanism of treatment success and relapse prevention. This registered clinical trial (NCT06826937) is currently recruiting. If you are interested, please contact us!
Natural Language Processing for risk assessment and diagnostics in mental health
This project applies Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Machine Learning (ML) techniques to electronic medical records in collaboration with Beer-Sheva Mental Health Hospital to enhance mental healthcare. Key objectives include:
· Identifying Risk: Detecting suicide and violence risks from clinical notes enabling timely intervention and prevention.
· Enhancing Diagnostics: Improving diagnostic accuracy by extracting insights from unstructured text data
· Tracking Patient Patterns: Analyzing text over time to identify trends in patient trajectories.
Integrating NLP and ML algorithms into clinical workflows aims to improve risk assessment, diagnostic processes, and patient monitoring. Data from the PTSD outpatient clinic and emergency department offers a broad perspective on patient care. These advancements aim to enhance decision-making, improve care quality, and strengthen the resilience and emergency response capabilities of the mental healthcare system.
Sponsered by the Ministry of Science, Thechnology and Space
Neural correlations of chronic pain
Chronic pain affects millions, yet many treatments remain ineffective or carry significant risks. This study investigates the neural mechanisms underlying chronic pain and the potential benefits of non-pharmacological interventions. A randomized controlled trial, incorporating functional and structural MRI, evaluates the effectiveness of short-term (4-session) psychological interventions by assessing brain differences between chronic pain patients in the treatment and control groups. The findings aim to contribute to the development of safer and more effective pain management strategies.
Bayesian reinforcement learning model for PTSD research
This study focuses on developing a Bayesian reinforcement learning model to enhance the understanding of PTSD. The findings could provide deeper insights into the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying PTSD, ultimately contributing to improved therapeutic approaches.
Resilience and PTSD among parents of combat soldiers during "Iron Swords" operation
This study examines the psychological resilience of parents of combat soldiers during "Iron Swords" operation and investigates the relationship between the operation and the increase in PTSD symptoms among parents. By analyzing stress responses and coping mechanisms. the research aims to provide insights into the mental health challenges faced by families of soldiers in conflict situations.
Development of physical morbidity following exposure to acute traumatic events in early childhood
This retrospective cohort study includes children aged 0–6 years referred to Soroka University Medical Center (SUMC) between 2004 and 2014. It aims to examine the association between early childhood exposure to acute traumatic events and the development of excess morbidity later in life, considering both physical and psychological health outcomes.
Mapping textual and brain changes in PTSD
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric condition associated with intrusive memories, nightmares, emotional dysregulation, and increased arousal. The lack of objective diagnostic tools makes early detection and effective intervention challenging. This controlled study aims to bridge this gap by identifying measurable linguistic and neural markers of PTSD. Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques are used to examine the emotional and structural characteristics of traumatic narratives, distinguishing PTSD-related stories from neutral ones. Our findings reveal noticeable differences in both text and functional MRI (fMRI) scans between the PTSD and control groups, suggesting that integrating linguistic and neuroimaging data can provide objective biomarkers for PTSD diagnosis.
Association between exposure to Combat Trauma and sedation dosage in ICU
This retrospective cohort study includes trauma patients admitted to Soroka University Medical Center’s Intensive Care Unit (SUMC ICU) between 2015 and 2025. The study aims to assess sedation dosage variations between Combat Trauma admissions (from the 2023 Israel-Hamas war) and regular trauma admissions, contributing to a better understanding of the psychophysical aspects of acute stress exposure, and enhancing medical treatment for those affected by Combat Trauma.
Growth impairment in children with ADHD: A retrospective cohort study
This study examines the relationship between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and growth impairment in children, focusing on potential height differences between those diagnosed with ADHD and their non-ADHD peers. Utilizing data from Clalit Health Services' MDClone database, the study explores the prevalence of short stature in children with ADHD, the potential impact of ADHD medications on growth, and differences across gender and developmental stages. By applying big data methodologies and causal inference approaches, the study aims to clarify whether ADHD and its treatments contribute to growth suppression, providing valuable insights for clinical practice and public health policies.
Demographic and social factors influencing remission in young children with asthma
This study explores the demographic and social factors affecting remission in children under the age of five diagnosed with asthma, focusing on the impact of the antibiotic azithromycin. While primarily an antibiotic, azithromycin also possesses immunomodulatory properties, making it a late-line treatment for asthma management. The research aims to identify children who may benefit from earlier intervention with this medication, potentially improving treatment strategies and optimizing care for young asthma patients.
Publications:
Our selected papers:
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· Unveiling the Structure in Mental Disorder Presentations 2024
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· Long term structural and functional neural changes following a single infusion of Ketamine in PTSD 2023
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· Network analysis of PTSD and depressive symptoms in 158,139 treatment-seeking veterans with PTSD 2020
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· Emotional numbing in PTSD is associated with lower amygdala reactivity to pain Nachshon Korem, 2022
Lab Members:
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Or Duek, Ph.D
Principle Investigator
A clinical psychologist, Assistant Professor (Senior Lecturer), in the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Community Health Sciences at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.
Personal Webpage
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Eitan Torz
MA Clinical
Psychology student
Lital Cohen
MA Cognitive
Sciences student
Ariel Roubach
MD-MPH
student
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Avi Fried
MD-MPH
student
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Lee Balzar
MD-MPH
student
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Yuval Elhayani
MD-MPH
student
Yarden Gil
MD-MPH
student
Shaked Eizman
BA Cognitive
Sciences student
Roee Baruch
BSc Statistics & BA Economy student
Dor Rozen
BSc Statistics & Managment
Collaborators:
Ilan Harpaz Rotem, PhD
Professor of Psychiatry and of Psychology
Yale school of medicine
https://medicine.yale.edu/profile/ilan-harpaz-rotem/
Elior Sulem
Software engineering
​Ben-Gurion university
https://cris.bgu.ac.il/en/persons/elior-sulem
Tobias Spiller, Dr. med.
Medicine
University of Zurich
https://www.dapp.uzh.ch/en/cfpr/researchgroups/juniorresearchgroups/sacp/team/tospil.html.
Join Us!
We are currently seeking enthusiastic and driven individuals for graduate and post-doctoral positions. If you are intrigued by the interdisciplinary convergence of Epidemiology, Psychology, and Neuroscience, we encourage you to reach out to us.
· Postdocs
· Graduate Students