Student Driven Publication 2017

Newsletter Team:

Xia Allen, Gail Corneau, University of North Carolina at Greensboro Docia Demmin, Rutgers University Annaleis Giovanetti, University of Notre Dame Rebecca Kazinka, Tierney McMahon, University of Buffalo Erik Nook, Harvard University Jacob Pine, Ohio State Katerina Rnic, University of Western Ontario Shirley Wang, Harvard University

Newsletter Coordinators: Randy P. Auerbach, Kristin Gainey, and Vijay Mittal Lee Anna Clark, Ph.D. University of Notre Dame Zubin Award Winner

Shirley Wang, Harvard University Tierney McMahon, University of Buffalo

r. Lee Anna DSM-III was published, Clark, the 2017 which included personality D Zubin Award disorders for the first time. winner, is a pioneer in She remembered feeling the field of personality excited that these disorders disorders. With over 160 were being recognized, but publications, she has puzzled by the approach to helped advance our assessment. Although understanding of personality disorders were assessment, etiology, defined as dysfunctional and treatment of personality traits, the personality disorders. disorders were assessed via Moreover, she brings an unbridled loosely defined prototypes and passion to her work, which has inspired symptoms. During the same period researchers in the field. when the DSM-III was published, Dr. Clark and her now-husband and long- After teaching English in Japan for one time colleague, Dr. David Watson, were year and subsequently obtaining a learning about Dr. Auke Tellegen’s Master’s in East Asian Studies from development of the Multidimensional , Dr. Clark completed Personality Questionnaire, a test her doctoral degree in clinical designed to assess normal personality at the University of functioning. Given Dr. Clark’s interest in Minnesota under the mentorship of Dr. personality measurement and her James Butcher. Perhaps not concerns with the diagnostic approach surprisingly, Dr. Clark’s dissertation to personality disorders, she began focused on translating the MMPI into developing the Schedule for Japanese, “I think [Dr. Butcher] knew Nonadaptive and Adaptive Personality what my dissertation would be before I (the SNAP), with the hope that it could even arrived to graduate school.” While serve as a valid assessment of Dr. Clark was in graduate school, the personality pathology. In light of Dr. Clark’s life work, she is a strong advocate for an empirically supported diagnostic system, and she believes it is critical to help insurance companies understand that disorders exist along a continuum and thus, treatment should be provided, accordingly. As a member of the Personality Disorders Working Group for the ICD, Dr. Clark is working to ensure that this issue does not continue to slip through the cracks in future revisions of the diagnostic system. Throughout her work, Dr. Clark has strongly advocated for a dimensional, When asked about her advice to current trait-based model for characterizing graduate students and early career personality pathology, investigators, Dr. Clark provided 4 insightful recommendations. First, she “If we can describe someone on stated that aspiring academics should 5-15 traits and point out what is be certain this is the career path they most problematic or needs to be want, as research and academic careers are not easy, nor always rewarding. addressed, that is much more Second, she suggested that students useful than a prototype model. A create healthy habits early on, as these prototype model cannot inform habits will help during times of stress what needs to be addressed.” that are inevitable throughout graduate school and an academic research Although categorical models may be career. Third, she advised students to easier to understand in the abstract, a think about both short-term and long- single category can describe two very term goals. Fourth, Dr. Clark reminded different presentations, reducing the us to remain “balanced.” She stated reliability and validity of diagnoses. that this balance might fluctuate from Thus, Dr. Clark’s research has time to time, but emphasized that we consistently underscored the should never let the pendulum swing importance of a dimensional approach, too far in any direction. Dr. Clark spoke which may provide more optimal of times in her own life when her career information for identifying points of demands necessitated that she “miss intervention. out on a soccer game” and other times when she conversely chose to spend time with her family, rather than stay late to work on a project, “We can have it all, but we cannot always have it all at once.”

Finally, Dr. Clark provided a special piece of advice to female aspiring academics: Don’t adjust your career or family aspirations because of outside pressure. Dr. Clark has repeatedly referred to her husband and strongest collaborator, Dr. David Watson, as her partner. She knew they were a team and although it was difficult to ensure they remained together as their careers developed, they agreed that they would not sacrifice their partnership.

In sum, Dr. Clark’s passion for research is clear. Her drive towards dimensional assessment of personality disorders and empirically based diagnostic criteria continues to have an immense impact on the field. Dr. Clark’s lifelong research on the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of personality disorders has greatly contributed to the understanding of psychopathology, and we are excited to follow her future pursuits.

Theodore Beauchaine, Ph.D. Ohio State University

Gail Corneau, University of North Carolina at Greensboro Jacob Pine, Ohio State Erik Nook, Harvard University

n a pleasant exploring the fields of afternoon chemistry, physics, and Oduring the engineering at Portland annual SRP meeting State University, Dr. this September, we Beauchaine discovered were fortunate to sit that none of these down with Dr. Ted subjects fully aligned Beauchaine over with his intellectual coffee and discuss interests. He decided to his research, career leave school and worked development, and as a Teamster for several advice for aspiring years before returning to psychologists. A professor at The Portland State to study psychology, Ohio State University and Director of a subject that resonated more the Lifespan Adjustment Project, Dr. strongly with him. Through work with Beauchaine’s research examines his undergraduate mentors, Drs. developmental pathways to Cathleen Smith and Thomas psychopathology. Specifically, his Kindermann, Dr. Beauchaine work focuses on how biological and developed a fascination with child contextual variables contribute to and adolescent development, which behavioral impulsivity, emotion was to be one day be paired with a dysregulation, and subsequent focus on externalizing disorders. internalizing and externalizing With encouragement of his mentors, disorders in children and Dr. Beauchaine decided to apply to adolescents. graduate school to further pursue these topics. Dr. Beauchaine took a non- traditional path to a career in In 1994, he entered the Clinical psychological research. Hailing from Psychology program at Stony Brook a working class family in Oregon, he University. Dr. Beauchaine spoke was the first of his family to seek an fondly of the Department and his advanced degree. However, while time there, recounting the high quality mentorship provided by He ultimately decided to take the faculty––including Drs. Edward faculty position, but he speculated Katkin, Daniel Klein, Susan O’Leary, that his career would likely have Zvi Strassberg, and Everett Waters–– taken a different direction had he whose research guided and shaped made a different decision. This was a his own. Dr. Beauchaine discussed point that Dr. Beauchaine returned how synthesizing the contributions to in our conversation: Sometimes it of multiple advisors was pivotal to is not clear which choice is “right,” his career, as combining multiple and young scientists should methods and theoretical nevertheless continue to take steps perspectives led to new perspectives to pursue their interests. Such quiet on developmental and biological and consistent dedication will lead underpinnings of psychopathology. to success in the long run.

Indeed, this approach has brought Dr. Beauchaine much success. His research underscores the importance of carefully delineating genetic, neural, and psychological processes that underlie development of psychiatric disorders. He focuses on endophenotypes—biological markers that convey vulnerability to Dr. Beauchaine completed his or indicate the presence of predoctoral internship at the psychopathology. In light of University of California at San Diego research indicating that many School of Medicine. He was then biomarkers of psychopathology offered both a postdoctoral position transcend diagnoses, Dr. at UCSD and a faculty position in the Beauchaine has suggested that Child Clinical Area at the University endophenotypes may be most of Washington. Dr. Beauchaine useful when examined in relation to struggled with this choice. On one specific neural functions, as opposed hand, the postdoctoral position to observable behaviors. would grant him the opportunity to Additionally, his research learn about emerging neuroimaging incorporates contextual variables, methods, whereas the faculty which can affect how certain position would allow him to launch endophenotypes ultimately give rise his career in academia right away. to psychological symptoms. In short, Dr. Beauchaine’s work highlights the the interactions of biological, importance of considering biological developmental, and contextual and environmental pathways, factors contributing to the etiology simultaneously and synergistically, in of psychiatric disorders. To development of psychopathology. encourage this, he recommended that data analysis plans should avoid Dr. Beauchaine applies this “splitting” a study into separate approach to externalizing spectrum papers that each report main effects disorders, such as ADHD, conduct and may not fully capture the disorder, and antisocial personality complexity of psychopathology. disorder, as well as non-suicidal self- Further, Dr. Beauchaine underscored injury and suicidal behavior. the value of theory-driven research Interestingly, his research suggests and noted that although data-driven that behavioral impulsivity is a methods can help reveal common vulnerability to all of these associations among symptoms and disorders, yet the interaction of vulnerabilities, we must be attentive behavioral impulsivity with additional to potential replicability challenges. biological and contextual variables Dr. Beauchaine also had several ultimately determines the trajectory pieces of advice for young scholars. and nature of a person’s symptoms. He was sympathetic to the sense of When discussing this phenomenon, uncertainty experienced by many Dr. Beauchaine remarked that “the beginning researchers. He reflected field is still wrapping its head around on risks he took throughout his the complexity of career, including his decision to psychopathology.” immediately take the faculty position at the University of Washington He suggested that scientists instead of exploring brain imaging should not be threatened by methods as a postdoctoral fellow. Ultimately, his group has published such complexity but instead several imaging studies of embrace it and seek to uncover externalizing disorders and self- how multiple phenomena injury, so pursuing multiple combine in the development of objectives is possible. Key pieces of mental illness. advice he gave were “just talk to people!” and collaborate. He When asked about future directions described how his openness to of the field and best research speaking with mentors and drawing practices, Dr. Beauchaine said that on their advice positively shaped his scientists should continue to explore professional trajectory. Further, Dr. Beauchaine stressed the importance of refining scientific writing skills through practice, developing a rigorous editing approach, and being vigilant about prioritizing writing on a daily basis.

In reflecting on his career thus far, Dr. Beauchaine remarked that “many good things come with patience and persistence.” These words were encouraging to us as we embark on our own professional careers in psychological science. Moreover, it was clear that these qualities have facilitated Dr. Beauchaine’s success, leading to his far-reaching contributions to our understanding of developmental pathways to psychopathology Thomas Olino, Ph.D. Temple University, Department of Psychology

Annaleis Giovanetti, University of Notre Dame Katerina Rnic, University of Western Ontario Docia Demmin, Rutgers University

r. Tom Olino, Dr. Olino’s positions— Assistant from WPIC to Temple—is DProfessor of that he has conducted Psychology at Temple theory-advancing work in University, was the the field of depression. recipient of the 2017 Society for Research in Dr. Olino has been Psychopathology Early interested in Career Award. The Early developmental processes Career Award since the beginning of his recognizes promising education and career in and productive psychology. His graduate scientists, and for Dr. years consisted primarily Olino, this honor is well- of behavioral coding deserved. Dr. Olino’s before he began working passion for research and drive to better with neuroimaging during his internship. understand risk for depression began as He reflected on how learning these an undergraduate, and his dedication to assessment techniques allowed him to this pursuit has only gained momentum begin making connections between throughout his career. Dr. Olino earned underlying processes and behavioral his doctoral degree in Clinical differences. When asked where he Psychology from Stony Brook University, hopes to see the field progress, he minoring in Quantitative Methods. He commented on the desire for this basic completed his clinical internship at science research to help inform clinical Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic interventions with the improvement of (WPIC) and a postdoctoral fellowship at cross-talk between these fields. Dr. the University of Pittsburgh, and then, Olino was passionate about the became an Assistant Professor of necessity for translating assessment Psychiatry at the University of measures for clinical use, emphasizing Pittsburgh. The common theme across the importance of predictive validity, reliability, and time and cost- interests, and being willing to learn effectiveness. Additionally, he those pieces, expressed an ambition to develop more personalized treatments, where we are “It can be tedious, it can be able to identify factors that could intimidating, it can be frustrating; predict whether or not an individual will but at the end of the day you get respond to a particular intervention. the actual answer that you are interested in.”

It is evident that this persistence and drive has contributed to his Dr. Olino’s considerable success.

When we asked Dr. Olino about the role SRP has played in the development Dr. Olino also offered valuable advice of his career, he warmly referred to the for rising researchers and particularly conference as his “intellectual home.” those at the beginning of their He highlighted the collaborative nature academic careers. He underscored the of the conference, emphasizing how the advantages that both computer small environment of the organization programming and an advanced facilitates engaging conversation with understanding of data analytics provide, both established and rising scholars. and recommended taking classes Such an environment provides a pivotal on these topics even as an role to advance clinical science, which undergraduate to prepare for a career ultimately, may enhance our capacity to in academia. Thinking to the future, he help individuals struggling with wide explained how a strong grasp of these ranging mental disorders. concepts means not having to fight the boundary of your own skills, allowing you to pursue the research questions that are of most interest. He stressed the importance of being curious and persistent about how to answer these questions. Importantly, he encouraged young scientists to be comfortable seeking out others who are more experienced, who have those analytic

Tierney McMahon University of Buffalo Mentor: Kristin Naragon-Gainey Smadar Levin Award Recipient

Xia Allen, University of Notre Dame Rebecca Kazinka, University of Minnesota

psychologist, ierney influenced by her McMahon, aunt, who is also a Ta fourth- psychologist. year graduate During her student at the undergraduate University of years she joined Buffalo, several research generously labs to build her agreed to speak CV, and found she with us to discuss enjoyed academia her academic and research. When background, she applied to work current research, and career plans. She on a Master’s degree she connected is one of the winners of the 2017 with Dr. Naragon-Gainey, who was in Smadar Levin Award at this year’s her first year of mentorship and was Society for Research in looking for lab volunteers. Tierney told Psychopathology conference in Denver, us that she was originally interested in CO, along with Adam Culbreth, who is researching rumination, but was drawn a fifth-year graduate student studying at to Dr. Naragon-Gainey’s work on Washington University in St. Louis. emotion regulation because it is a broader construct. This mentorship Tierney is currently studying under the helped Tierney to become a better, mentorship of Dr. Kristin Naragon- more critical consumer of research, Gainey, whose research broadly leading her to develop efficient and examines affective processes in quality research skills that would psychopathology and psychological eventually win her this year’s Smadar well-being. Tierney told us that she Levin Award. always knew she wanted to be a

Tierney’s main research interests lie in interested in the mechanisms of examining emotion regulation in dysregulated affect in internalizing context – that is, when certain emotion disorders, and whether treatments regulation strategies are and are not targeting these mechanisms can be adaptive, and how to improve them. applied trans-diagnostically. She expressed that she has a secondary interest in decentering and mindfulness, Before she is able to reach these goals, the third-wave therapy concepts related she sees broadening her research to the objective observation of one’s experiences as the next step in her own internal experience. Her lab is career development. She told us that currently working on examining the use after the completion of her degree she of decentering in daily life, using plans to complete a post-doc and Ecological Momentary Assessment obtain an academic position, but she is (EMA). Participants report 6 times per open to other options and is keeping an day on their emotional experiences, open mind regarding the opportunities depression symptoms, and their use of networking may bring her. This outlook decentering and mindfulness as reflects her advice for students early in emotion regulation strategies. Tierney their career development to be open to herself is in the process of planning her opportunities and changing research dissertation, and hopes to examine interests: attentional control processes as possible mediating factors in the “Always keep an open mind in relation between decentering, terms of what you might be psychopathology, and emotional interested in – you don’t really experience. know where your opportunities The direction of her dissertation reflects will lead you.” her broader career goal of identifying trans-diagnostic mechanisms of psychopathology, the “essential ingredients” of treatment, and the neurobehavioral processes underlying both. In the long term, she hopes to conduct randomized controlled trials and translational research that can improve clinical interventions, but for now she is focused on understanding and refining the measurement of relevant constructs. In particular, she is Adam Culbreth Washington University Mentor: Deana Barch Smadar Levin Award Recipient

Xia Allen, University of Notre Dame Rebecca Kazinka, University of Minnesota

e had the about the topic, he pleasure of became a research Wspeaking assistant at the with Adam Culbreth, University of Maryland a fifth-year graduate under Dr. Jim Gold and student at Dr. Greg Strauss, where Washington he met more patients University and the face-to-face. Adam recipient of the 2017 found that his Smadar Levin Award experience at the following the 2017 University of Maryland Society for Research enriched his in Psychopathology understanding of conference in Denver, schizophrenia and CO. Adam was very exposed what is still generous with his time in discussing his unknown. Dr. Strauss and Dr. Gold’s research, future goals, and advice for research on motivational deficits in other students. schizophrenia helped him hone his interests, and he now focuses on Adam currently works with Dr. Deanna maladaptive reward learning and effort Barch, studying motivation and negative as it relates to motivation in symptoms in schizophrenia. Inspired by schizophrenia. his neuroscience and clinical courses topic during his undergraduate career To conduct his research, Adam uses a at Indiana University, Adam began decision-making task to measure working with Dr. Bill Hetrick studying motivation while measuring brain schizophrenia, where he learned function with an fMRI scanner. In invaluable research skills. After addition, he uses an Ecological graduation, still eager to learn more Momentary Assessment (EMA) approach in which patients are given a assessing negative symptoms is cell phone asked what they are doing retrospective self-report, which can be and how they are feeling at random particularly difficult with patients with intervals throughout the day. Adam schizophrenia. He hopes that using argues that this method will allow the EMA will improve the measurement of researchers to better assess how active these symptoms. patients are in their day-to-day lives. He was first exposed to this method while As Adam looks towards internship next working on a grant proposal, when he year, he hopes to gain important clinical met another researcher who used EMA skills and insight into what patients’ in an inpatient clinic to try to predict daily experience is really like. relapse, and thought that it would be an “Ultimately, the goal is to use this excellent addition to his research. He is research to improve treatment for hopeful that this method will help schizophrenia,” and find the best ways answer important questions, like “Do to intervene with motivational deficits in effort-based tasks in the lab correlate schizophrenia. He is particularly inspired with real life experiences?” Further, by by EMA research, and hopes that future comparing the EMA measurements of research can get even more information motivation to experimental motivational from cell phones, such as number of tasks and neuroimaging, he hopes to text messages or phone calls, steps per elucidate important mechanistic day, and daily questionnaires, to further pathways on how motivational deficits quantify motivation. After internship, he in schizophrenia occur. aims to work towards becoming an independent researcher. As he Adam finds this work particularly approaches the end of his graduate valuable because negative symptoms of training, he hopes to gain more skills in schizophrenia, such as anhedonia and organization and management so that disorganization, often have a more he can mentor future excellent severe impact on everyday functioning researchers. He has always been than the well-known positive symptoms impressed with how well-structured Dr. like hallucinations. Therefore, Barch’s lab has been, and found it gave understanding the mechanisms of him the necessary support needed to negative symptoms can help inform accomplish his goals. He aims to apply treatments to improve patients’ lives. what he has learned as he looks towards However, Adam notes that while future leadership positions. negative symptoms are perhaps the more valuable target, they are much harder to measure consistently. Currently the most popular method of Finally, Adam has some advice for younger students interested in research.

“There is a lot of emphasis in research to carve out your own area”, he says, but he believes that doesn’t mean that you have to do it all alone. “The best projects I’ve done were in collaboration with lab members”

He advises that working alone will limit the complexity of the questions you can ask, which can ultimately hold you back. He suggests building relationships with other lab members and potential collaborators that can help answer the important research questions, which will ultimately help move the whole field forward.