Research

Research is an important component of our mission.

The Skyland Trail research team partners with academic and healthcare organizations to help advance understanding of effective mental health treatment. We are grateful to the individuals and organizations who contribute to make these collaborations possible.

Our research team also leads our patient outcomes research and client community data analysis.

Current Research Studies

Skyland Trail is currently participating in three research studies.

  • Longitudinal Treatment Outcomes of Skyland Trail PatientsTo better understand how patients sustain recovery after leaving Skyland Trail, we aim to track long-term outcomes and follow patient trajectories once they re-enter their communities. This ongoing study will gather and analyze data to improve patient success and inform the broader psychiatric community about the lasting benefits of holistic, evidence-based residential treatment. The results will help refine pre- and post-discharge treatment standards, allowing us to identify challenges and successes in recovery. By doing so, we can implement new strategies during treatment to better equip patients for lasting success.
  • Understanding the Role of Hormones for Adult Female Patients with Borderline Personality Disorder: Emory University School of Medicine Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics This study will examine circulating ovarian hormones to determine how they map on to symptoms, symptom severity, and treatment response so that we can develop more personalized treatment approaches.

Student Learning Support

In 2024-2025, the Research & Outcomes Department provided mentorship and hands-on training to three undergraduate students and seven graduate students from five universities: Oglethorpe University, Emory University, Georgia State University, University of Georgia, and Mercer University. Students participated in ongoing research, presented at conferences, and completed milestones using Skyland Trail patient data.

Research Updates

Recent Presentations

Transgender and Gender Expansive Adult Patients with Previous Sexual Trauma Exposure in Intensive Psychiatric Treatment Report Greater Utilization of Self-Distraction Coping Skills Compared to Cisgender Adults

September 24, 2025

Female Patients With Probable PTSD are More Likely to Admit into a Non-Emergent Residential Psychiatric Treatment Facility During the Follicular Menstrual Cycle Phase

September 24, 2025

High CRP is Associated with Dimensional Model of Anxiety but not Categorical Model in Context of Child Abuse and Real Word Population

June 21, 2025

Receipt of Financial Aid is Associated with Improved Psychiatric Treatment Outcomes for Adolescents

April 26, 2025

Depression Severity on Quality of life in Adolescents Seeking Mental Health Treatment

April 26, 2025

Presence of Criterion A Trauma Does Not Impact Remission in Patients Receiving TMS for Depression

April 26, 2025

Increased Risk of Suicide at Baseline is not Associated with Different Outcomes in Concurrent TMS and Evidence-Based Psychotherapy

April 26, 2025

Childhood Abuse is Associated with Psychiatric Hospitalization Adjusting for Age as a Confounder

October 29, 2024

Childhood Emotional Abuse Associated with Increase Suicide Cognition Scale Scores in a Chronically Suicidal, High-Risk Population

September 26, 2024

Prevalence of High Trauma Severity and Low Suicidality among Females in the Mid-Luteal Menstrual Cycle Phase at Admission into a Non-Emergent Residential Psychiatric Treatment Facility

September 26, 2024

Published Articles

  • Katrinli, S., Rothbaum, A.O., DeMoss, R. et al. The impact of ovulation-suppressing contraceptives on behavioral and functional difficulties in borderline personality disorderNeuropsychopharmacol. 50, 841–848 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-024-02045-4

Meet Our Research Team

Research Archive