top of page
Mental State Processing
in Outpatient Psychotherapy

We are evaluating whether cognitive behavioral therapy results in changes to patients' social and metacognitive skills in two settings: A partial hospital program for patients with severe and complex psychopathology, and an outpatient community treatment clinic. We are also using a novel machine learning technique to identify participants' mental state language during therapy. This research will help to clarify why treatment works and develop a more efficient and potentially reliable method to assess changes in mental state processing.

Psychological Ontology of
Mental State Processing

The ability to understand thoughts and emotions is central to many areas of our lives, including our relationships and mental health. However, research has not concretely defined the different components of this skill. In our current work, we are studying how performance on common measures of theory of mind, mentalization, and empathy are related (or distinct). Moreover, we are exploring how these elements of mental state processing differentially impact functioning in daily life.

Mental State Processing 
and General Psychopathology

Mental health difficulties often co-occur; approximately half of individuals who meet diagnostic criteria for one mental health diagnosis also meet criteria for a second concurrent disorder. In collaboration with Dr. Adrienne Romer, we are investigating whether mental state processing impairments help to explain the co-occurrence of psychiatric symptoms. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we are also examining possible neurological mechanisms linking mental state processing with psychopathology. 

bottom of page