Psychology

The scope of research conducted by the Psychology Working Group includes outcomes and interventions involving neurocognitive and psychosocial function, including emotional health and distress, social attainment, and health-related quality of life. Collaborative efforts with other Working Groups include evaluation of the impact of physical co-morbidities on psychological outcomes (Chronic Disease), the impact of psychological function on health behaviors and health care utilization (Cancer Control and Intervention), and identification of how genetic moderators of cancer therapy impact psychological outcomes (Genetics). Collaboration with the Biostatistics/Epidemiology Working Group is ongoing to examine multivariable associations between exposures and patterns of neurocognitive and emotional outcomes, as well as to examine growth and development of functional limitations over time.

Sample Research Areas:

• Investigation of mHealth interventions to improve neurocognitive and psychosocial outcomes.
  
• Examination of the impact of less intense therapeutic exposures in survivors using direct assessment of neurocognitive function.
  
• Evaluation of neurocognitive and psychosocial functional changes with age.
  
• Development of interventions to remotely deliver cognitive behavioral therapy to treat emotional distress, pain and pain-related disability, and sleep/fatigue disorders.
  
• Development of remotely delivered psychoeducation, behavioral and cognitive interventions to facilitate improvement and adaptation to neurocognitive deficits.
  
• Evaluation of the impact of cancer and cancer therapies on directly assessed neurocognitive function in aging survivors.