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Principal Investigator
Clinical Psychology
Kurt Dermen
Primary Research Areas
Motivational and behavioral interventions for substance abuse treatment, health risk reduction, and health promotion; alcohol's influence on risky sexual behavior and sexual aggression.
On-going Research
Dissemination of a MI-based Preparatory Procedure (funded by NIAAA). Investigating the dissemination and "real world" effectiveness of a motivational interviewing-(MI)-based preparatory procedure designed to reduce early attriition from alcoholism outpatient treatment (in collaboration with Principal Investigator Kimberly S. Walitzer, PhD and Co-investigator Gerard J. Connors, PhD).
Changes in Women’s HIV Risk Following Alcohol Treatment (funded by NIAAA). Evaluating the extent to which women’s alcohol use and other variables are related to HIV risk-related behavior before and after entry into substance abuse treatment (in collaboration with Co-investigator Maria Testa, PhD).
Brief Motivational Intervention to Promote Oral Health (funded by NIDCR). Developing and pilot testing a brief motivational oral and dental health promotion intervention for use with individuals undergoing inpatient treatment for alcohol dependence (in collaboration with Co-investigators Sebastian Ciancio, D.D.S., UB School of Dental Medicine and Gerard J. Connors, PhD).
Restraint and Attributions: Risk Factors in Alcohol Abuse (funded by NIAAA).  Examining drinking restraint and the preoccupation with controlling alcohol consumption as a risk factor for misuse of alcohol and alcohol problems (in collaboration with Principal Investigator R. Lorraine Collins, PhD, of UB’s School of Public Health and Health Professions, and Co-investigator Tenko Raykov, PhD).
Facilitating Involvement in AA During Alcoholism Outpatient Treatment (funded by NIAAA). Examining the effectiveness of two strategies designed to facilitate clients' involvement in Alcoholics Anonymous during alcoholism outpatient treatment (in collaboration with Principal Investigator Kimberly S. Walitzer, PhD and Co-investigator Gerard J. Connors, PhD).
Enhancing HIV Prevention Through Drinking Reduction (funded by NIAAA). Evaluating the impact of two-session motivational interventions that focused on drinking reduction, HIV risk reduction and their combination among male and female college students.
Representative and Recent Publications
Dermen, K. H., & Thomas, S. N. (2011). Randomized controlled trial of brief interventions to reduce college students’ drinking and risky sex. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors. Advance online publication. doi:10.1037/a0025472
Skewes, M. C., Dermen, K. H., & Blume, A. W. (2011). Readiness to change and post-intervention drinking among Hispanic college students living on the U.S.-Mexico border. Addictive Behaviors, 36, 183-189.
Walitzer, K. S., Dermen, K. H., & Barrick, C. (2009). Facilitating involvement in Alcoholics Anonymous during outpatient treatment: A randomized clinical trial. Addiction, 104, 391-401.
Dearing, R. L., Barrick, C., Dermen, K. H., & Walitzer, K. S. (2005). Indicators of client engagement: Influences on alcohol treatment satisfaction and outcomes. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 19, 71-78. Abstract
Araujo, M. W., Dermen, K., Connors, G., & Ciancio, S. (2004). Oral and dental health among inpatients in treatment for alcohol use disorders: A pilot study. Journal of the International Academy of Periodontology, 6 ,125-130. Abstract
Walitzer, K. S., & Dermen, K. H. (2004). Alcohol-focused spouse involvement and behavioral couples therapy: Evaluation of enhancements to drinking reduction treatment for male problem drinkers. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 72, 944-955. Abstract
Connors, G. J., Walitzer, K. S., & Dermen, K. H. (2002). Preparing clients for alcoholism treatment: Effects on treatment participation and outcomes. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 70, 1161-1169. Abstract
Dermen, K. H., & Cooper, M. L. (2000). Inhibition conflict and alcohol expectancy as moderators of alcohol's relationship to condom use. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 8, 198-206. Abstract
Testa, M., & Dermen, K. H. (1999). The differential correlates of sexual coercion and rape. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 14, 548-561.
Walitzer, K. S., Dermen, K. H., & Connors, G. J. (1999). Strategies for preparing clients for treatment: A review. Behavior Modification, 23, 129-151.
Dermen, K. H., Cooper, M. L., & Agocha, V. B. (1998). Sex-related alcohol expectancies as moderators of the relationship between alcohol use and risky sex in adolescents. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 59, 71-77. Abstract

Last updated 5/14/12