Columbia Study Answers Addresses the Effect of Medically-Induced Comas

Mark Chae, Ph.D., a researcher and former professor from East Brunswick, New Jersey, taught in the graduate program for Community and Rehabilitation Counseling at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, now the Rutgers School of Biomedical and Health Sciences. Before his career as an educator and researcher, Mark Chae, Ph.D. attended Columbia University, where he earned a master of arts in applied psychology and a master of science in psychological counseling.

In February 2021, Columbia University researchers discovered information related to the effects of prolonged anesthesia on cognitive ability. The research resulted from reports from the families, revealing that their loved one was not “quite the same” after they underwent medically-induced comas to be treated for COVID-19. Incidentally, this is considered a life-saving procedure that millions undergo every year. However, researchers at Columbia discovered that there are lingering effects of being under for so long.

Prolonged anesthesia takes the brain to a state of deep unconsciousness, and it has been long known that this leads to cognitive impairment associated with memory loss and confusion. However, this was the first study to research the effect of prolonged anesthesia on neural pathways (cognition).

The actual study involved setting up an ICU platform for mice, where mice were given continuous anesthesia for up to 40 hours. Using advanced neuroimaging, researchers were able to visualize live but microscopic brain structures. This allowed researchers to study areas in the brain associated with processing bodily sensations. Ultimately, researchers found that prolonged anesthesia does alter the brain’s neural structure, regardless of age.

This study is the first in several studies that would have to establish validity for this finding. According to an article appearing on the Columbia news site, researchers would need to assess different and widely used anesthetics, in addition to anesthetics given to patients systematically, to conclude whether this finding is valid.

Rutgers Researches Addiction at Its Brain Health Institute

An East Brunswick, New Jersey psychologist, Mark Chae, Ph.D. has spent most of his career on research. At one time, Mark Chae, Ph.D. was a researcher and professor at the Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (RBHS), formerly University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.

One of RBHS‘ umbrella centers is the Brain Health Institute (BHI), which promotes various research projects in neuroscience through the Rutgers Addiction Research Center (RUARC). RUARC is on the frontline of the opioid epidemic that has affected many communities across the country. This office plans to address opioid abuse using a multi-disciplinary approach involving scientists across various fields.

The research will involve assisting those recovering from addiction while driving public policy through a four-pronged approach. The first prong involves researching individual treatment differences and needs, and the second prong relates to the treatment and care of individuals and families dealing with opioid addiction.

RUARC also plans to facilitate public policy that prevents drug addiction while providing more avenues for those suffering from addiction to access treatment. The final activity RUARC is involved in relates to training all stakeholders that are involved with treating addiction.

Author Guidelines for the Journal of Counseling and Development

Throughout his career, Mark Chae, PhD held several academic appointments and presented at hundreds of national conferences. Mark Chae, PhD also served on the editorial boards of several publications, including the Journal of Counseling and Development, the flagship publication of the American Counseling Association.

The Journal of Counseling and Development serves 18 different specialty areas relating to the counseling profession. The journal is open to manuscripts in five categories: practice, research, theory, brief reports, and assessment and diagnosis. It publishes articles that are relevant to professionals with a diverse client base. All articles accepted by the journal are scholarly and have implications for public policy or practice relating to counseling. Accepted articles are also based on existing literature in the field.

Once submitted, manuscripts are reviewed by at least two editorial board members and are chosen by the editor of the publication. Since all submissions are blind peer-reviewed, authors must ensure their manuscript is free of clues about their identity. Author names, titles, and other identifying information must only be on the cover title page and not in any footnotes or headers. Manuscripts submitted to the Journal of Counseling and Development cannot be published elsewhere in a similar form, nor can authors submit the same manuscript to other publications at the same time.

Rutgers University Offers Master’s Program in Counseling Psychology

Over the past 15 years, Mark Chae, PhD, has acquired teaching experience in several institutions of higher education, including Pillar College and Rutgers University. At Pillar College, his professional role included coordinating the master’s degree program in counselor education. As an assistant professor at Rutgers, Mark Chae, PhD, served as in the Graduate School of Education, Department of Educational Psychology.

The Graduate School of Education at Rutgers University offers a master of education in counseling psychology. The program prepares students for professional roles in the field of mental health. Core courses cover group counseling principles, statistical methods, and psychometric theory. Additionally, students may choose to participate in practical field work.

Students enrolled in the program have up to five years to complete the required coursework. Both full-time and part-time study modes are available. To apply for the program, students fill out an online application form and submit supporting documents along with a nonrefundable application fee.