▁of ▁hy pert ension ▁and ▁unnecessary ▁pres cription ▁of ▁medic ation . ▁Pick ering ▁was ▁the ▁Princi pal ▁Investig ator ▁of ▁a ▁National ▁Heart ▁L ung ▁and ▁Blood ▁inst itute ▁Program ▁Project ▁that ▁began ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 3 ▁and ▁has ▁investig ated ▁several ▁phen omena ▁related ▁to ▁the ▁behavior al ▁causes ▁and ▁phys i ological ▁consequences ▁of ▁hy pert ension , ▁foc using ▁on ▁white ▁coat ▁hy pert ension , ▁no ct urn al ▁blood ▁pressure ▁" di pping ", ▁race ▁differences ▁in ▁PS G - ass essed ▁sleep ▁quality ▁and ▁target ▁organ ▁damage , ▁and ▁the ▁effects ▁of ▁work - related ▁stress ▁on ▁blood ▁pressure ▁and ▁left ▁vent ric ular ▁hy pert ro phy ▁( L V H ). ▁The ▁latter ▁study ▁remains ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁few ▁pros pective ▁demonstr ations ▁that ▁environmental ▁stress ▁is ▁associated ▁with ▁hy pert ension ▁and ▁L V H . ▁ ▁M emb ership ▁and ▁hon ors ▁ ▁Pick ering ▁served ▁as ▁a ▁member ▁and ▁leader ▁of ▁a ▁number ▁of ▁professional ▁organizations ▁at ▁both ▁the ▁national ▁and ▁international ▁levels . ▁He ▁was ▁President ▁of ▁the ▁Society ▁of ▁Be havior al ▁Medicine , ▁and ▁the ▁Academy ▁of ▁Be havior al ▁Medicine ▁Research . ▁Pick ering ▁was ▁also ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁National ▁Heart , ▁L ung , ▁and ▁Blood ▁Institute ' s ▁Task ▁Force ▁on ▁Be havior al ▁Medicine , ▁on ▁the ▁Board ▁of ▁Direct ors ▁of ▁the ▁American ▁Heart ▁Association , ▁and ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁Committee ▁on ▁G ulf ▁War ▁and ▁Str ess ▁of