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Alex Psihogios, PhD
Psychologist
Dr. Psihogios' research focuses on improving treatment adherence in adolescents and young adults (AYA) with chronic medical conditions, particularly those with cancer. She uses real-time mobile health strategies to better understand the day-to-day factors that proximally impact treatment adherence.
Bio
Dr. Psihogios' research program is centered on improving health outcomes for adolescents and young adults (AYA) with cancer and other chronic medical conditions by targeting a modifiable health behavior — treatment nonadherence. Her research studies use state-of-the-art mobile health approaches to learn how to deliver adherence support in the moment and context that AYA need it the most, and how this information can be leveraged for personalized interventions.
Toward this goal, in 2019, Dr. Psihogios received a Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (K08) from the National Cancer Institute to translate ecological momentary assessment data into a just-in-time adaptive intervention for promoting oral chemotherapy adherence in AYA with leukemia.
For over 10 years, Dr. Psihogios has worked as a research assistant, interventionist, research coordinator, and PI on numerous NIH, CDC, and foundation-funded research projects – all related to the health and adjustment of children, adolescents, and young adults with chronic health conditions.
In 2017, the American Cancer Society awarded her a postdoctoral grant to conduct a formative, mixed methods study of facilitators and barriers to AYA cancer treatment adherence. In 2018, the Mattie Miracle Cancer Foundation awarded Dr. Psihogios a pilot grant to test the feasibility and acceptability of using a hospital-based text messaging service to assess daily oral chemotherapy adherence in AYA with leukemia.
Among her notable career accomplishments, Dr. Psihogios:
- Received the Distinguished Research Trainee Award (Postdoctoral Fellow Category) from the Research Institute at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
- Leads a NIH-funded study to develop the first just-in-time adaptive intervention for promoting oral chemotherapy adherence among AYA with acute lymphoblastic leukemia
- Co-founded and co-chairs the Society of Pediatric Psychology Digital Health Special Interest Group (American Psychological Association, Division 54)
Education and Training
BA, University of Maryland Baltimore County (Psychology), 2009
MA, Loyola University Chicago (Clinical Psychology), 2012
PhD, Loyola University Chicago (Clinical Psychology), 2016
Pre-Doctoral Clinical Internship, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (Pediatric Psychology), 2016
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (Behavioral Oncology), 2019
Titles and Academic Titles
Psychologist
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Co-chair of the Society of Pediatric Psychology Digital Health Special Interest Group
Professional Memberships
Society of Pediatric Psychology, 2011-
American Psychosocial Oncology Society, 2018-
Professional Awards
Invited Selected Speaker for Student Research Blitz, Society of Pediatric Psychology Annual Conference, 2016
National Institutes of Health Loan Repayment Program, 2017-2020
Illinois Spina Bifida Association Research Award, Second Place, 2018
Journal of Pediatric Psychology Most Cited Paper Award (Psihogios, Murray, Zebracki, Acevedo, and Holmbeck, 2017), 2019
Distinguished Research Trainee (Postdoctoral Fellow Category), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 2020
Publication Highlights
Pubmed:
Psihogios AM, Schwartz LA, Deatrick JA, Ver Hoeve ES, Anderson LM, Wartman EC, Szalda, D. Preferences for cancer survivorship care among adolescents and young adults who experienced healthcare transitions and their parents. J. Cancer Surviv. 2019 Jan; 13(4):620-631. PubMed PMID: 31273639
Psihogios AM, Li Y, Butler E, Hamilton J, Daniel LC, Barakat LP, Bonafide CP, Schwartz LA. Text message responsivity in a 2-way short message service pilot intervention with adolescent and young adult survivors of cancer. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2019 Jan; 7(4):e12547. Notes: Online only. PubMed PMID: 30998225
Psihogios, A.M., Fellmeth, H., Schwartz, L.A., & Barakat, L.P. Family functioning and medical adherence across children and adolescents with chronic health conditions: a meta-analysis. Journal of Pediatric Psychology. 2019 Jan; 44(1), 84–97
Schwartz LA, Psihogios AM, Henry-Moss D, Daniel LC, Ver Hoeve ES, Velazquez-Martin B, Butler E, Hobbie WL, Buchanan Lunsford N, Sabatino SA, Barakat LP, Ginsberg JP, Fleisher L, Deatrick JA, Jacobs LA, O'Hagan B, Anderson L, Fredericks EM, Amaral S, Houston K, Vachani C, Hampshire MK, Metz JM, Hill-Kayser CE, Szalda D. Iterative Development of a Tailored mHealth Intervention for Adolescent and Young Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer. Clin Prac Pediatr Psychol. 2019 Jan; In press, 2019
Psihogios AM, Daniel LC, Tarazi R, Smith-Whitley K, Patterson, CA, Barakat LP. Family functioning, medical self-management, and health outcomes among school-aged children with sickle cell disease: A mediation model. J Pediatric Psychol. 2018 Jan; 43(4):423-433. PubMed PMID: 29048590
Active Grants/Contracts
Using Real Time Mobile Health Approaches to Understand and Promote Oral Chemotherapy Adherence in Adolescents and Young Adults with Leukemia
- National Cancer Institute/National Institutes of Health
- 2019-2024
- This study will use ecological momentary assessment via a gamified mobile app to determine the temporal, contextual factors that relate to AYA oral chemotherapy nonadherence, then develop a just-in-time adaptive mobile intervention for improving their adherence.
- Alexandra M. Psihogios, PhD