Research Interests:

My primary research interest is examining factors that are related to psychotherapy outcomes in children and adults seen in an outpatient setting. I am also interested in research that integrates theories from social psychology and clinical psychology. To date, I have developed this interest by studying interpersonal approaches to depression and suicidal behavior and by examining applications of social psychology approaches to clinical practice. Currently, I am conducting a study on how a motivational intervention from the social psychology literature impacts psychotherapy homework compliance.

 

 

Honors and Awards:

University Research Fellowship, 2005-2007

 

Publications:

Witte, T.K., Timmons, K.A., Fink, E., Smith, A.R., & Joiner, T.E. (in press). Do major depressive disorder and dysthymic disorder confer differential risk for suicide? Journal of Affective Disorders.

Buckner, J.D., Cromer, K.R., Merrill, K.A., Mallott, M.A., Schmidt, N.B., Lopez, C., Holm-Denoma, J.M., & Joiner, T.E., Jr. (in press). Pretreatment intervention increases treatment outcomes for patients with anxiety disorders. Cognitive Therapy and Research.

Holm-Denoma, J.M., Gordon, K.H., Donohue, K.F., Waesche, M.C., Castro, Y., Brown, J.S., Jakobsons, L.J., Merrill, K.A., Buckner, J.D., & Joiner, T.E. (2008). Patients’ affective reactions to receiving diagnostic feedback. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 27, 555-575.

Witte, T.K., Merrill, K.A., Stellrecht, N., Bernert, R., Hollar, D., Schatschneider, C., & Joiner, T.E. (2008). “Impulsive” suicide attempters really aren’t that impulsive. Journal of Affective Disorders, 107, 107-116.

Bernert, R.A., Merrill, K.A., Braithwaite, S.R., Van Orden, K., & Joiner, T.E. (2007). A prospective evaluation of family stress and insomnia in young adults. Journal of Family Psychology.

Pfaff., J.J., Bernert, R.A., Hollar, D.L., Witte, T.K., Merrill, K.A., Pettit, J.W., & Joiner, T.E. (2006). Birth month and depressive and suicidal symptoms in an elderly Australian sample born in the southern or northern hemisphere. Psychiatry Research, 144, 217-19.

Joiner, T.E., Kistner, J., Stellrecht, N., & Merrill, K.A. (2006). On seeing clearly and thriving: Interpersonal perspicacity as adaptive (not depressive) realism (or where three theories meet). Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 25, 542-564.

Van Orden, K.A., Merrill, K.A., & Joiner, T.E. (2005) Interpersonal-psychological precursors to suicidal behavior: A theory of attempted and completed suicide. Current Psychiatry Reviews, 1, 187-196.

Book Chapters

Joiner, T.E., & Timmons, K.A. (2008). Depression in its Interpersonal Context. In I. Gotlib & C. Hammen (Eds.), Handbook of Depression. Guilford Publications.

Timmons, K.A., & Joiner, T.E. (2008). Excessive Reassurance Seeking and Negative Feedback Seeking. In K. Dobson & D. Dozois (Eds.), Risk Factors for Depression. Elsevier Publications.

Merrill, K.A., & Joiner, T.E. (2007). Depression. In R. Baumeister & K. Vohs (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Social Psychology. Sage Publications.

Presenations

Timmons, K.A., Van Orden, K.A., & Joiner, T.E. (2008). Effect of Fees and Fee Reductions on Psychotherapy Outcomes in a University Training Clinic. Poster accepted for presentation at the 42nd annual convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Orlando, FL.

Witte, T.K., Timmons, K.A., Fink, E., Smith, A.R., & Joiner, T.E. (2008). Utility of depressive illness in the prediction of suicide risk. Poster accepted for presentation at the 42nd annual convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Orlando, FL.

Merrill, K.A., & Joiner, T.E. (2007). Excessive reassurance-seeking, depression, and anxiety: A cross-cultural analysis. Poster presented at Graduate Research Day, Florida State University.

Merrill, K.A., & Joiner, T.E. (2006). Self-consistency, self-esteem, and life events: Interactive effects on depression and anxiety. Poster presented at the 40th annual convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Chicago, IL.

Merrill, K.A., & Joiner, T.E. (2005). Self-esteem variability and vulnerability to depression: Understanding the role of interpersonal information-seeking processes. Symposium presentation at the 39th annual convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Washington, D.C.

Merrill, K.A., Joiner, T.E., Fresco, D., & Lewinsohn, P.M. (2005). Cognitive flexibility and vulnerability to depression in a large community sample of adolescents. Poster presented at the 39th annual convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Washington, D.C.

Witte, T.K., Merrill, K.A., Stellrecht, N., Bernert, R., Hollar, D., Schatschneider, C., & Joiner, T.E. (2005). “Impulsive” suicide attempters really aren’t that impulsive. Poster presented at the 39th annual convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Washington, D.C.