Elizabeth E. Epstein, PhD
 |
Professor of Psychiatry
|
Dr. Epstein is Professor of Psychiatry, Addictions Division, UMass Chan Medical School, and Professor Emerita, Center of Alcohol Studies, Rutgers University. Dr. Epstein received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Connecticut and is a licensed psychologist. She is Principal Investigator and/or co-investigator on several past and current clinical research grants funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Her primary research activities involve development and testing of Motivational Enhancement/Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (MET/CBT) models and mechanisms of change for substance use disorders (SUDs), and related problems such as mood and emotion dysregulation, relational problems, and personality disorders, as well as individual differences among substance abusers and impact on treatment response, mechanisms of change in treatment for SUDs, and on implementation research for special populations. She has taught, published and lectured widely on treatment of substance use disorders and CBT treatment of psychopathology. Her current research focuses on development of MET/CBT for women with alcohol use disorders, understanding mechanisms of change in cognitive behavioral therapy for alcohol use disorder, and adaptation of alcohol behavioral couple/family therapy for service members and Veterans. She also does NIAAA funded research on an alcohol risk reduction CBT model for National Guard service members, she is a co-investigator on several NIH-funded grants including on topics such as treatment of opioid dependence and chronic pain, persistence-based smoking cessation, and development of a Partner-involved phone app for AUD. In addition, Dr. Epstein served as a Master Trainer and Clinical Training consultant for the Veteran Affairs program to disseminate evidence-based treatments for substance use disorders for implementation in the VA system. Dr. Epstein is author of Addictions: A Comprehensive Guidebook for Clinicians (Oxford University Press) and two MET/CBT treatment manuals and patient workbooks.