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Abstracts of articles recently published, in press, under
review, or in preparation, or of newly funded research.
Correia,
C.J., Benson, T.A., & Carey, K.B (2005). Decreased substance use
following increases in alternative behaviors: A preliminary investigation.
Addictive Behaviors, 30, 19-27.
Research derived from behavioral
economic theories has demonstrated reciprocal links between substance use and
engagement in substance-free activities.
The current study used an experimental manipulation to further
investigate the relationship between substance use and substance-free
behaviors in a non-clinical sample of 133 young adults. Participants completed surveys on substance
use and engagement in specific substance-free behaviors (exercise and
creative behaviors) on two occasions separated by a 28 day interval. During the four weeks separating
assessments, the 105 participants who reported recent substance use were
randomly assigned to one of three experimental conditions with corresponding
behavioral instructions: substance use reduction (SR), activity increase
(AI), and a no-change control.
Participants assigned to both the SR and AI conditions reported a significant
decrease in their substance-use behavior.
These results are consistent with previous studies in demonstrating
that decreases in substance use can be achieved by increasing engagement in
substance-free behaviors.
Correia,
C.J., Sigmon, S.C., Silverman, K., Bigelow, G.E., &
Stitzer, M.L. (2005). A comparison of voucher delivery schedules for the
initiation of cocaine abstinence. Experimental and Clinical
Psychopharmacology, 13, 252-258.
Studies on the use of shaping procedures
to increase rates of cocaine abstinence have produced promising results. This study used a Brief Abstinence Test to
examine the impact of reinforcement for initial reductions in cocaine use on
a subsequent abstinence reinforcement test.
Methadone
maintenance patients (n = 47) showing evidence of cocaine use were exposed,
in counterbalanced order, to two one-week reinforcement conditions. During the Shaping condition, participants
could earn $50 vouchers on Wednesday and Friday for meeting quantitative
urinalysis criteria, and a $100 voucher the following Monday for meeting the
more stringent qualitative criteria.
During the Terminal condition, only the $100 earning opportunity for
meeting the qualitative criteria was provided. Participants were more likely to meet the
qualitative reinforcement criteria on Wednesday and Friday under the Shaping
condition than under the Terminal condition. However, contrary to the initial
hypothesis, the Shaping reinforcement condition did not increase rates of
abstinence on the final abstinence test.
Wohl, M.J.A., Young, M.M.
& Hart, K.E. (2005) Untreated Young Gamblers with Problems: Self-Concept
Involving Luck, Gambling Ecology and Delay in Seeking Professional Treatment.
Addiction Research and Theory, 13, 445-459
We assessed whether self-perceptions
of dispositional personal luck are more pronounced among young gamblers who
experience trouble with types of games that contain elements of skill
relative to gamblers who have trouble with games characterized by pure
chance. We also examined the convergence of subjective belief in
personal luck and ecology of the game on attitudes toward seeking treatment.
Our methodology consisted of a survey involving a sample of untreated
young adults who scored one or more on the DSM-IV gambling screen. Results
showed young people whose most problematic game contained a skill component
(e.g., poker) were more likely to perceive themselves as being
characterologically lucky. They also had more negative attitudes toward
treatment seeking than their youthful counterparts whose most problematic
game was one of pure chance (e.g., slot machines). These results
suggest the subjective belief that one is a lucky person may play a role in
maintaining problematic patterns of gambling. At the same time, this
type of an unrealistic self-concept may also undermine the motivation to
reduce imprudent wagering or abstain altogether. We concluded that
excessive delay in seeking professional treatment services may be related to
the combined influence of person and environment factors. Specifically,
the gap between needing help and obtaining help might widened by: (a) unrealistic
self-perceptions involving belief in personal luck, and (b) involvement with
wagering games that emphasize elements of skill.
NEWLY
FUNDED R01 (NIDA): ACCEPTANCE THERAPY FOR METHADONE DETOXIFICATION, Angela L. Stotts, Ph.D., PI
Opiate dependence is a severe and costly societal problem.
While methadone maintenance (MM) is effective for managing this disorder, as
many as 70% of MM clients are interested in detoxification in order to
achieve a drug-free life. To date, however, success rates for opiate
detoxification are very low, in part, due to physical and psychological
symptoms and fears associated with opiate withdrawal. Few behavior
therapies have been developed to promote abstinence during and subsequent to
opiate dose reduction and even fewer treatment models have devoted sufficient
attention to the distressing experiences specific to methadone
withdrawal. A novel behavioral treatment, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
(ACT) is based on the idea that attempts to avoid private experience
(thoughts, feelings, memories, bodily sensations) are ubiquitous yet often
pathogenic. Given that opiate dependent individuals in detoxification often
resort to opiate use to reduce, escape or avoid commonly experienced fear,
anxiety, and physical symptoms, ACT seems uniquely applicable to the opiate
detoxification experience. By decreasing experiential avoidance during
dose reduction, ACT has the potential to significantly increase methadone
detoxification success rates.
The proposed Stage I research will
develop and test an innovative ACT-based opiate detoxification behavioral
therapy within the context of a long-term methadone dose reduction
program. In Phase 1, investigators will develop the new therapy based
on previous ACT protocols, focus groups, and expert knowledge. Phase 2
will consist of a pilot trial to evaluate the ACT-based opiate detoxification
therapy. A randomized, controlled, between groups design will be used
in which opiate dependent patients (N=70) motivated for detoxification are
assigned to one of two treatment conditions: ACT or Drug
Counseling. A 4-week stabilization period will precede a 5-month dose
reduction period using an inverse exponential dosing strategy, with 1-month
follow-up. Behavioral treatments will consist of 24 weekly sessions
beginning in stabilization. Specific aims are to test the feasibility
and acceptability of ACT for opiate detoxification, to assess patient
improvement (e.g., drug use, HIV/Hepatitis C risk behavior, psychosocial
functioning), to generate sufficient data to provide a basis for a power
analysis, and to evaluate the active mechanisms of change in ACT:
experiential avoidance as a mediator of treatment effects and a moderator of
the impact of withdrawal symptoms, negative affect and detoxification fear.
The work
will be conducted using the rigorous procedures of our Treatment Research
Clinic (SARC, UT-Health Science Center-Houston) in collaboration with experts
in behavior therapy development and the originators of ACT. The
research will contribute both theoretically and empirically to a rather
sparse literature concerning effective behavior therapy for opiate
detoxification. Effective treatment provided in conjunction with
detoxification from agonist medication could result in significant decreases
in the substantial health and social costs associated with chronic opiate
dependence.
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CHIEF
OF MENTAL HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES SERVICE POSITION, Providence
VA Medical Center
The Mental Health and Behavioral Service at the Providence
VA Medical Center, Providence,
RI, is seeking a full time
Psychiatrist or doctoral level mental health professional for Chief, of the
Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences Service. Must be an MD, Ph.D. or
other doctoral level professional with successful completion of training in
adult psychiatry or another mental health specialty in an accredited program. Also responsible for education and research
as agreed upon. Candidates should have significant experience working
with physicians and other mental health professionals in a general or specialty Hospital and a record of clinical
research or scholarly activity in the area of psychiatry or related
fields. The candidate should also have a record of teaching and
supervision of psychiatry residents and other trainees. Candidate must be eligible for academic
appointment at Brown
University at the
Associate or Full Professor level, Teaching or Research Scholar Track.
The candidate must demonstrate a national reputation in his or her field and
scholarly productivity. The Providence VA Medical
Center
is an EEO/AA employer and encourages applications from
minorities and women. Review of applicants will begin immediately and
will continue until the position is filled or the search is closed.
Send letter and CV to: Martin B. Keller, M.D., Chairman, Department of
Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Butler
Hospital, 345 Blackstone Blvd., Providence, RI 02906
(Contact Alan Sirota, Ph.D., Chief Psychologist, VAMC Providence for
additional information at (401) 273-7100 x3404).
THE CENTER OF ALCOHOL STUDIES AT RUTGERS – THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY
invites applications for a full-time tenure-track position at either the
assistant or associate professor rank beginning on or before January 1,
2006. We are seeking applicants with
research interests in basic and/or applied research in addictions etiology,
treatment, and/or prevention across the lifespan. Applicants are expected to have a strong
background in quantitative methodology, data analysis including complex
latent variable modeling, and data base management. The successful candidate
is expected to teach graduate courses, to initiate and/or contribute to
interdisciplinary research collaborations with faculty within and across
degree programs and to provide methodological consulting to colleagues and
students in the center and other University departments. Candidates must have
a PH.D. in psychology, sociology, statistics, or a related discipline. Required qualifications: Evidence of a
strong background in quantitative methodology and data analysis; knowledge of
SAS, Mplus and/or other statistical software packages, interest in developing
and contributing to interdisciplinary research and program development in the
prevention and treatment of substance abuse problems. Consideration of applications will begin September 6, 2005 and will
continue until the position is filled. A vitae, a statement of research
interests and qualifications, and three letters of recommendations should be
sent to: Erich Labouvie, Rutgers Center of
Alcohol Studies, 607 Allison Rd.,
Piscataway, NJ
08854-8001 or by
email to ewl@rci.rutgers.edu. Rutgers
University is an Equal
Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY, OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY is inviting
applications for 3 anticipated full-time, tenure track positions beginning August,
2006. All candidates must have
completed their Ph.D. from a recognized department of psychology; candidates
for clinical positions must have received their doctoral degree from an
APA-accredited clinical program and have completed an APA-approved Clinical
Psychology Internship. Candidates are
expected to have a strong background in and dedication to scholarly activity,
and to interact well with colleagues and students. They must also demonstrate the capacity to
maintain a high quality research program leading to scholarly productivity in
the form of professional publication, presentations and grantsmanship, to
supervise undergraduate and graduate student research, and to provide quality
instruction. Competitive salary and
start-up funds are available. Normal
teaching load is 2 courses per semester.
1) Clinical Psychology,
Assistant Professor and 2) Clinical Psychology, Associate Professor. Candidates for both positions will be
expected to provide clinical supervision for students in our departmental
clinic, to serve as a research mentor for doctoral students, and to teach
graduate and undergraduate courses in 1 or more of the following areas: systems of psychotherapy, research design,
experimental methods, and abnormal psychology. Research specialty for both positions is
open, but would prefer one of the following areas: Health Psychology/Behavioral Medicine,
Adult Psychopathology, or Child Clinical.
3) Assistant Professor
– specialty for this position is open, but successful candidates will
complement one of the following areas:
life span developmental, cognitive psychology, aging, personality,
health psychology, or child/adult psychopathology. Candidates will be expected to serve as a
research mentor for doctoral students, and to teach graduate and
undergraduate courses.
The Department has 18 full-time
faculty and offers Ph.D.s in life-span developmental psychology and clinical
psychology. The Clinical Program,
APA-accredited since 1971, is based on the scientist-practitioner model of training. The Department offers training to a
diversified graduate and undergraduate student body (30% minority enrollment)
of approximately 50 doctoral students and 500 undergraduate majors. Applicants are encouraged to visit the
Department website at http://psychology.okstate.edu.
OSU is located in Stillwater,
OK, an environmentally clean, safe, pleasant
city of 40,000 located in north central Oklahoma,
approximately 70 miles from both Oklahoma City
and Tulsa. Stillwater
public schools were recently selected as one of the “100 Best Public
School Systems in America,”
and the city has excellent affordable housing.
For full consideration,
application materials must be received by October 15, 2005. However, applications will be accepted
until the position is filled. It is
anticipated that interviewing will begin in late November or early
December. Application should include a
cover letter indicating research and teaching interests, vita,
reprints/preprints, summary of course evaluations/evidence of teaching
excellence, and three letters of recommendation sent to Frank L. Collins,
Ph.D., Chair, Search Committee, Department of Psychology, Oklahoma State
University, 215 North Murray, Stillwater, OK
74078-3064; (405) 744-6027.
Oklahoma State
University is an Equal
Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
Minorities and women are encouraged to apply. The successful applicant must comply with
IRCA.
Assistant
Professor, Department of Psychology, University
of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Required
qualifications include a doctorate degree with a specialization in Community
Psychology; a research program and potential for distinguished research
productivity related to health, broadly defined (e.g., community development,
prevention intervention); and interest in teaching Community Psychology
courses. The successful candidate must be able to contribute significantly to
the Community Health track of the new, Interdisciplinary Health Psychology
Doctoral Program. The applicant’s program of research should also
overlap with the research agenda of UNC Charlotte’s new Institute for
Social Capital, focusing on promoting the health and well-being of children
and adolescents. Desired qualifications include a record of obtaining
external funding for research, and experience teaching community psychology
courses at the undergraduate and/or graduate levels. The position begins August, 2006. Expectations include the development of a
strong record of scholarship (including external funding), a teaching
assignment of 2 courses per term, mentoring of graduate and undergraduate
students, and professional and university service. Applications - consisting
of a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, evidence of teaching effectiveness
(if available), in .pdf format, and three letters of recommendation
—should be sent to Dr. James Cook, Chair, Search Committee,
jcook@email.uncc.edu. Review of applications will begin January 15 and
continue until the position is filled. AA/EOE
Postdoctoral
Fellowships in Alcohol Etiology and Treatment
The
Research Institute on Addictions (RIA), a research component of the
University at Buffalo,
The State University of New York, has multiple openings for NIAAA-funded
postdoctoral fellows in alcohol etiology and treatment. The program provides specialized
postdoctoral training for individuals seeking to pursue a career in alcohol
research. The interdisciplinary
training program emphasizes two primary areas: (1) etiology and course of
alcohol use and misuse and (2) treatment for alcohol use disorders. Fellows develop and pursue research
interests under the supervision of faculty preceptors. Seminars on alcohol use disorders, current
alcohol research, grant writing, and professional issues and career
development are an integral part of the training program. A start date is negotiable. Established in 1970, RIA has a staff of
over 180 persons working on over 30 separate research projects. RIA occupies a five-story building, and
offers outstanding resources in support of its research endeavors. Visit the RIA website at
http://www.ria.buffalo.edu. Inquiries
can be made to either Gerard J. Connors (connors@ria.buffalo.edu) or R.
Lorraine Collins (collins@ria.buffalo.edu), Co-Training Directors. Applicants should forward a vita,
representative reprints, letters of reference, and a cover letter describing
research interests and training goals to: Alcohol Research Postdoctoral
Training Committee, Attn: G. Connors and R. L. Collins, Research Institute on
Addictions, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203. Applications from minority candidates are
particularly welcome. Applicants must
be citizens or noncitizen nationals of the U.S. or must have been lawfully
admitted for permanent residence. AA/EOE
Postdoctoral
Fellowship in Alcohol Research
This
is a two-year appointment, commencing no earlier than July 1st and no later
than December 31st of each year, within the Department of Psychiatry &
Behavioral Sciences and the Addictive Behaviors Research Center in the
Department of Psychology at the University of Washington, and is funded by
the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (Principal
Investigator, Mary Larimer; Co-Investigators, Drs. G. Alan Marlatt, and Ilene
Bernstein). This fellowship will provide training for individuals who wish to
pursue a career in alcohol research, with an emphasis on the etiology and
prevention of problem drinking and alcohol dependence. As this topic will be
approached from both psychosocial and bio-behavioral perspectives,
individuals with background training in relevant areas of psychology
(clinical, health psychology, behavioral neuroscience, social, developmental,
cognitive, behavioral pharmacology, etc.) are encouraged to apply. Both human
and animal research will be supported.
Applicants should submit a cover letter indicating areas of interest, CV, and
three letters of recommendation by February 1st, 2006, to Postdoctoral
Psychology Training in Alcohol Research Program, Department of Psychiatry
& Behavioral Sciences 1959
NE Pacific St., Room BB1616, Box 356560,
University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-6560.
The
UW is committed to training culturally diverse research fellows and strongly
encourages applications from female and minority candidates. The University is an Equal
Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Due to Federal Guidelines only
applicants who are national citizens or current green card holders will be
considered.
For more information please contact:
Mary E. Larimer, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Psychiatry
Associate Director, Addictive Behaviors Research Center
Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
University of Washington
Box 356560
Seattle, WA 98195
Phone:206-543-3513
Fax: 206-543-9520
Jane Corkery Hahn
PTAR Coordinator
Dept of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
University of Washington Box 356560
1959 NE Pacific St, HSB Room BB1632
Seattle, WA 98195-6560
206-543-0473 Fax: 206-543-9520
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS IN ALCOHOL
ABUSE AND ADDICTIONS
RESEARCH
BROWN MEDICAL
SCHOOL, CENTER FOR
ALCOHOL AND ADDICTION STUDIES
The
Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies at the Brown Medical
School is recruiting
for fellows in two associated postdoctoral fellowship training programs, one
funded by NIAAA in alcohol abuse and addictions and one funded by NIDA in
substance abuse. The training programs provide postdoctoral research
training for biomedical, behavioral, and social scientists and health care
professionals who wish to conduct high quality research in the early
intervention and treatment of alcohol and other drug problems. Areas of
expertise in the fellowship include pharmacotherapy, neurobiology and
genetics of alcohol and substance dependence, and animal models of alcohol
and drug reinforcement, consumption, sensitization and conditioned
reward.
Application
review begins on January 17, 2006. For further details and an
application go to http://www.caas.brown.edu
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