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Deputy Director
Clinical Psychology
Primary Research Areas
Treatment of alcohol problems; spouse involvement in alcohol treatment; Alcoholics Anonymous; dissemination of empirically-supported treatments.
Current Projects
Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction in Alcoholism Treatment (funded by NIAAA). This investigation will examine MBSR’s benefits as an adjunctive intervention in the outpatient treatment of alcohol dependence. The study is being conducted in collaboration with Principal Investigator Gerard J. Connors, PhD, Nancy J. Smyth, PhD, UB School of Social Work, and Craig R. Colder, PhD, UB Department of Psychology.
Developing Anger Management (CRCS) for Use in Alcoholism Treatment (funded by NIAAA). Development of a 12-session treatment manual for anger management therapy with outpatient alcohol-dependent men and women, followed by a pilot clinical trial to examine the effects of the anger management therapy with alcoholics scoring high on an anger index (in collaboration with RIA’s Gerard J. Connors, PhD and Paul R. Stasiewicz, PhD).
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 attrition from alcoholism outpatient treatment (in collaboration with Kurt H. Dermen, PhD, Christopher Barrick, PhD, and Gerard J. Connors, 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 Gerard J. Connors, PhD and Kurt H. Dermen, PhD).
Spouse Involvement in the Treatment of Alcohol Problems (funded by NIAAA). Involving the drinker's spouse and marital therapy in treatment programs targeted to adults with mild to moderate alcohol problems (in collaboration with Kurt H. Dermen, PhD and Gerard J. Connors, PhD).
Representative and Recent Publications
Walitzer, K. S., & Dearing, R. L. (in press). Characteristics of alcoholic smokers, non-smokers, and former smokers: Personality, negative affect, alcohol involvement, and treatment participation. Nicotine & Tobacco Research.
Walitzer, K. S., Dermen, K. H., Shyhalla, K., & Kubiak, A. (in press). Couples communication among problem drinking males and their spouses: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Family Therapy.
Schumacher, J. A., Coffey, S. F., Walitzer, K .S., Burke, R. S., Williams, D. C., Norquist, G., & Elkin, D. (2012). Guidance for new motivational interviewing trainers when training addiction professionals: Findings from a survey of experienced trainers. Motivational Interviewing: Training, Research, Implementation, Practice, 1, 7-15.
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.
Connors, G. J., Walitzer, K. S., & Tonigan, J. S. (2008). Spiritual change in recovery. In M. Galanter & L. A. Kaskutas (Ed.), Recent developments in alcoholism: Vol. 18 Research on Alcoholics Anonymous and spirituality in addiction recovery (pp. 209-227). New York: Springer.
Walitzer, K. S., & Connors, G. J. (2007). Thirty-month follow-up of drinking moderation training for women: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 75, 501-507.
Walitzer, K. S., & Dearing, R. L. (2006). Gender differences in alcohol and substance use relapse. Clinical Psychology Review, 26, 128-148. Abstract
Barrick, C., & Walitzer, K. S. (2004). Problem drinking. In R. Coombs (Ed.), Addiction counseling review: Preparing for comprehensive, certification and licensing examinations (pp. 225-244). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.
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
Connors, G. J., & Walitzer, K. S. (2001). Reducing alcohol consumption among heavily-drinking women: Evaluating the contributions of life skills training and booster sessions. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 69, 447-456. Abstract
Walitzer, K. S., & Connors, G. J. (1999). Treating problem drinking. Alcohol, Research, & Health, 23, 138-143. Abstract
Walitzer, K. S., Dermen, K. H., & Connors, G. J. (1999). Strategies for preparing clients for treatment: A review. Behavior Modification, 23, 129-151.

Last updated 5/14/12