Psychology is the study of human behavior and mental processes. Psychological and behavioral health are essential to an individual's well-being and play an important role in everyday life.
Psychology research is the scientific study of human behavior and mental processes. In simple terms, it is the process of investigating how and why people think, feel, and behave in certain ways. The aim of psychology research is to expand our understanding of emotions, motivations, personality traits, cognition, learning styles, social interactions and more. Psychologists hope to answer questions about the human mind as well as find better methods of treatment for patients in the areas of behavior therapy, mental health counseling, school-based learning and much more.
PCOM psychology faculty and students conduct behavioral and developmental research in children, adolescents and adults. They also study neurodevelopmental disorders, anxiety, stress-related medical disorders, school-based intervention and assessment, attitudes and beliefs, substance use, individual and cultural differences, social media effects and cognitive behavioral therapy.
Additionally, PCOM's psychologists collaborate with primary care physicians to study patient non-compliance, health risk behaviors and communication networks in order to enhance motivation and promote wellness. Research in clinical psychology focuses on issues in normative development and the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of psychopathology. The goal of school psychology is to prevent behavioral and academic difficulties and develop novel strategies for intervention.
PCOM faculty member Alexa Bonacquisti, PhD, shares insight into her research into postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression symptoms.
Clinical psychology student Nicholas Hope is looking for patterns within patients who may be at risk for overdose or self-harm after weight-loss surgery.
PsyD student Nicole Fleischer's dissertation examines how children with asthma and anxiety may respond to different treatments.
Ashley Poole, PsyD '21, investigates medical and graduate students' perspectives on collaborative care and working with other healthcare disciplines.
Julia Boyle's research explores insomnia as well as the severity and frequency of symptoms within a large community sample of individuals aged 18-90.
PCOM psychology student Nora Brier examines how women patients think and feel about their medical scars from pacemaker surgery.
Associate professor Michelle Lent, PhD, is the lead author of a recent publication that suggests opioid use disorder (OUD) intervention “has to be more than medication.”
PCOM aims to develop innovative approaches to promoting health through basic, translational, clinical, behavioral, education and community research projects.
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