» UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE M é moran dum 7 National Institute of Mental Health TO FROM SUBJECT : See below DATE: July 23, 1969 Director and Deputy Director, DERP, NIMH NHI-NIMH meeting, July 18, 1969 Those present were: Dr. Theodore Cooper, Director, NHI; Dr. Malvina Schweizer, Special Assistant to Director, NHI; Dr. Louis A. Wienckowski, Director, DERP, NIMH; Dr. Betty H. Pickett, Deputy Director, DERP, NIMH; Dr. Martin M. Katz, Chief, Clinical Research Branch, DERP, NIMH; Dr. Thomas A. Williams, Consultant to CRB, DERP, NIMH. The purpose of the meeting was to provide opportunity for discussion by representatives of the two Institutes of the conference report, "Behavioral Factors and Cardiovascular Disease." The NIMH representatives had prepared a paper, "Staff comments on NHI-NIMH conference report, behavioral factors and cardiovascular disease," which had been provided the two Heart Institute staff members prior to the meeting. It was clear that everyone agreed that the area was of definite interest on both sides and definitely worth continued exploration in the interests of planning future programs. Dr. Cooper emphasized, and the NIMH group agreed, that there is, however, an urgent need for education of Institute behavioral scientists and cardiovascular specialists (both staff and consultants), each about the research techniques and contribu- tions of the other, and that the Institutes should facilitate such cross-education immediately. The group then reviewed each of the conference recommendations, making their own recommendations for immediate follow-up as follows: Recommendation #1 Application of visceral learning techniques It was agreed that NIMH would continue its survey of the field and would consider having a critical evaluation of the field made by qualified consuitant(s). Dr. Cooper urged that NIMH staff attempt to arrange a series of visits to appropriate behavioral science laboratories so that National Heart Institute staff and consultants could learn about the psychophysiological and behavioral techniques which are involved, in order to evaluate better HELP ELIMINATE WASTE COST REDUCTION PROGRAM \ GPO : 1967 © - 272-918 . 2 the reality of prospects of application of said techniques in the immediate future. Specifically, he suggested that the following NHI personnel and consultants: soe Chief of the Training Program and Chairman of Training Grant Committee Chief of the Program Project and Chairman of Program-Project Committee Chief of the Special Projects Program and Chairman of Special Projects ‘Committee plus Dr. Schweizer and possibly Dr. Cooper, himself, visit Neal Miller's laboratory, accompanied by appropriate NIMH staff. The purpose of the visit, as indicated above, would be to inform the Heart staff and consultants as to the techniques involved and the possibilities for their application. 7 Recommendation #2 Study of coronary care units Behavioral scientists do not have the information they need to evaluate the behavioral research possibilities in Myocardial Infarction Research Units. Therefore, an appropriate group of behavioral scientists, guided and introduced by Heart Institute staff, should visit such units, especially the MIRU'S at MGH and Rochester, and possibly the MIRU at Duke, to assess the possibilities for conducting behavioral research in such settings. Recommendation #3 Surgical settings ' Based on the same rationale, it was recommended that behavioral science staff and consultants make similar visits to assess the possibilities of making psychological studies in settings where care of patients following heart surgery takes place. Recommendation #4 The development of portabie blood pressure devices Taking advantage of NASA's current push to make application of space technology to medical science in general, Dr. Cooper will request that NASA survey its extensive information relative to telemetric devices for psychophysiologic measurement and, free of charge, provide the resultant information to the National Heart Institute. It is anticipated that NASA may come up with highly pertinent material which could provide the basis for appropriate research and development efforts to be mutually funded by contracts. : Recommendation #5 Special ad hoc committee It was agreed that, should such a special committee be established, ic could properly serve both consultation and review functions, at least in the early stages of development of programs in the biobehavioral- cardiovascular area. Dr. Cooper explained that such a committee might also function similarly to a committee the Heart Institute has operatec jointly with NINDS for a number of years, concerned with vascular accidents and stroke. Other Areas Training One of the big issues here is to be able to specify appropriate training in behavioral sciences areas which would enable a cardiovascular expert to function effectively in research that crosses the disciplinary fields. Dr. Cooper's hope is that the experience of visiting behavioral sciences research centers where experimental conditioning programs are underway will provide the cardiovascular experts with some idea of what is involved in the interest of future training programs. Public Information It was suggested that an editorial, perhaps jointly authored by the two Institutes, be prepared for publication in appropriate behavioral sciences and cardiovascular journals--e.g., Circulation, American Psychologist, American Journal of Psychiatry, or Archives. The purpose of the editorial would be to announce the existence of the dialogue between the two Institutes, the level and kind of activity presently ongoing, and to express the interests and needs of both institutes in the area. It was agreed that each of the Institutes would draft an outiine for such an editorial, (A Ree CL. thig haurh. Louis A. Wienckowski, Ph.D. Director Division of Extramural Research Programs, NIMH bocte HI Cae ‘Betty H. Pickett, Ph.D. Deputy Director Division of Extramural Research Programs, NIMH Addressees Dr. Cooper Dr. Schweizer Dr. Katz Dr. Williams