Kurt H. Dermen PhD
Kurt H. Dermen
PhD
Senior Research Scientist
Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Specialty/Research Focus
Addictions; Drug abuse; Public Health and General Preventive Medicine
Professional Summary:
Dr. Dermen’s research agenda comprises two overarching goals. The first is to improve understanding of factors and processes that influence health-related behavior. In this area, his primary focus has been on testing theoretical models of health-related behavior, including alcohol and other drug use, risky sexual behavior and sexual aggression.
The second goal of his research program is to improve behavioral methods and technologies for health promotion, prevention and treatment. In this domain, his primary focus has been on developing, evaluating and disseminating motivational and behavioral interventions for treatment of substance use disorders and for health risk reduction and health promotion in substance-using populations. His efforts have involved testing methods to facilitate AA involvement in treatment for alcohol use disorders, identifying factors that affect dissemination of an empirically-supported treatment innovation, developing and piloting a brief motivational intervention to promote oral health in the context of inpatient treatment for alcohol use disorder, and testing the impact of a protocol for tailoring treatment for alcohol use disorder on the basis of clients’ pretreatment drinking trajectories. Most recently, he has begun work on creating a web-delivered, motivational interviewing-based intervention to promote oral health.
Education and Training:
- PhD, Psychology, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York (1990)
- BS, Psychology, Pennsylvania State University (1982)
Employment:
- Senior Research Scientist, Psychiatry, University at Buffalo (2018-present)
- Senior Research Scientist, Research Institute on Addictions (1998–2018)
- Research Scientist, Research Institute on Addictions (1990–1998)
- Project Coordinator, Research Institute on Addictions (1990–1998)
- Research Scientist, Psychology, University at Buffalo, College of Arts and Sciences (1993–1995)
Grants and Sponsored Research:
- May 2019–April 2024
Strong Foundations: Intervening to Promote Co-Parenting and Reduce Father Hazardous Drinking in Expectant Parents
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Role: Co-Investigator
$2,246,077 - September 2017–August 2021
Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Program
Health Resources and Services Administration
Role: Co-Investigator
$1,920,000 - September 2018–August 2020
Developing a Tailored, Web-delivered, Motivational Interviewing-based Intervention to Promote Oral Health
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
Role: Principal Investigator
$438,625 - July 2017–June 2020
Behavioral Health Integration in a Native American Primary Care Clinic – HRSA NEPQR
Health Resources and Services Administration
Role: Co-Investigator
$500,000 - May 2015–April 2020
Pretreatment Changes in Drinking: A Test of a Tailored Treatment Approach
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Role: Co-Investigator
$2,978,081 - July 2018–June 2019
Addressing Dental and Psychiatric Comorbidities in HIV / AIDS Patients
University of Rochester Department of Public Health Sciences
Role: Co-Investigator
$25,000
Journal Articles:
- Miller KE, Dermen KH, Lucke JF. Caffeinated energy drink use by U.S. adolescents aged 13-17: A national profile. Psychol Addict Behav. 2018; 32(6).
- Bradizza CM, Brown WC, Ruszczyk MU, Dermen KH, Lucke JF, Stasiewicz PR. Difficulties in emotion regulation in treatment-seeking alcoholics with and without co-occurring mood and anxiety disorders. Addict Behav. 2018; 80.
- Miller KE, Dermen KH, Lucke JF. Intoxication-Related Alcohol Mixed with Energy Drink Expectancies Scale: Initial Development and Validation. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2017; 41(6).
- Dermen K. Brief motivational intervention delivered in the emergency department can reduce hazardous drinking and risky sexual behaviour. Evid Based Nurs. 2017; 20(2).
- Przybyla SM, Eliseo-Arras RK, Krawiec G, Gower E, Dermen K, Dermen KH. Feasibility and Acceptability of a Smartphone App for Daily Reports of Substance Use and Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence among HIV-Infected Adults. AIDS Res Treat. 2016; 2016.
- Walitzer KS, Dermen KH, Barrick C, Shyhalla K. Modeling the Innovation-Decision Process: Dissemination and Adoption of a Motivational Interviewing Preparatory Procedure In Addiction Outpatient Clinics. J Subst Abuse Treat. 2015; 57.
- Bradizza CM, Stasiewicz PR, Dermen KH. Behavioral Interventions for Individuals Dually-Diagnosed with a Severe Mental Illness and a Substance Use Disorder. Curr Addict Rep. 2014; 1(4).
- Dermen KH, Ciancio SG, Fabiano JA. A pilot test of motivational oral health promotion with alcohol-dependent inpatients. Health Psychol. 2014; 33(4).
- Walitzer KS, Dermen KH, Shyhalla K, Kubiak A. Couple communication among problem drinking males and their spouses: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Family Therapy. 2013; 35.
- Dermen KH, Thomas SN. Randomized controlled trial of brief interventions to reduce college students' drinking and risky sex. Psychol Addict Behav. 2011; 25(4).
- Skewes MC, Dermen KH, Blume AW. Readiness to change and post-intervention drinking among Hispanic college students living on the US/Mexico border. Addict Behav. 2011; 36(3).
- Walitzer KS, Dermen KH, Barrick C. Facilitating involvement in Alcoholics Anonymous during out-patient treatment: a randomized clinical trial. Addiction. 2009; 104(3).
- Cooper ML, Krull JL, Agocha VB, Flanagan ME, Orcutt HK, Grabe S, Dermen KH, Jackson M. Motivational pathways to alcohol use and abuse among Black and White adolescents. J Abnorm Psychol. 2008; 117(3).
- Contrino KM, Dermen KH, Nochajski TH, Wieczorek WF, Navratil PK. Compliance and learning in an intervention program for partner-violent men. J Interpers Violence. 2007; 22(12).
- Stasiewicz PR, Herrman D, Nochajski TH, Dermen KH. Motivational interviewing – Engaging highly resistant clients in treatment. Counselor: the Magazine for Addiction Professionals. 2006; 7.
- Dearing RL, Barrick C, Dermen KH, Walitzer KS. Indicators of client engagement: influences on alcohol treatment satisfaction and outcomes. Psychol Addict Behav. 2005; 19(1).
- Walitzer KS, Dermen KH. Alcohol-focused spouse involvement and behavioral couples therapy: evaluation of enhancements to drinking reduction treatment for male problem drinkers. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2004; 72(6).
- Araujo MW, Dermen K, Connors G, Ciancio S. Oral and dental health among inpatients in treatment for alcohol use disorders: a pilot study. J Int Acad Periodontol. 2004; 6(4).
- Connors GJ, Walitzer KS, Dermen KH. Preparing clients for alcoholism treatment: effects on treatment participation and outcomes. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2002; 70(5).
- Dermen KH, Cooper ML. Inhibition conflict and alcohol expectancy as moderators of alcohol‘s relationship to condom use. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 2000; 8(2).
- Connors GJ, DiClemente CC, Dermen KH, Kadden R, Carroll KM, Frone MR. Predicting the therapeutic alliance in alcoholism treatment. J Stud Alcohol. 2000; 61(1).
- Rychtarik RG, Connors GJ, Dermen KH, Stasiewicz PR. Alcoholics Anonymous and the use of medications to prevent relapse: an anonymous survey of member attitudes. J Stud Alcohol. 2000; 61(1).
- Walitzer KS, Dermen KH, Connors GJ. Strategies for preparing clients for treatment. A review. Behav Modif. 1999; 23(1).
- Testa M, Dermen KH. The differential predictors of sexual coercion and rape. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. 1999; 14.
- Connors GJ, Collins RL, Dermen KH, Koutsky JR. Substance use restraint: An extension of the construct to a clinical population. Cognitive Therapy and Research. 1998; 22.
- Dermen KH, Cooper ML, Agocha VB. Sex-related alcohol expectancies as moderators of the relationship between alcohol use and risky sex in adolescents. J Stud Alcohol. 1998; 59(1).
- Connors GJ, Dermen KH. Characteristics of participants in secular organizations for sobriety (SOS). Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 1996; 22(2).
- Zweben A, Donovan DM, Randall CL, Barrett D, Dermen K, Kabela E, McRee B, Meyers R, Rice C, Rosengren D, Dermen KH. Issues in the development of subject recruitment strategies and eligibility criteria in multisite trials of matching. J Stud Alcohol Suppl. 1994; 12.
- Dermen KH, Cooper ML. Sex-related alcohol expectancies among adolescents: I. Scale development. Psychol Addict Behav. 1994; 8.
- Dermen KH, Cooper ML. Sex-related alcohol expectancies among adolescents: II. Prediction of drinking in social and sexual situations. Psychol Addict Behav. 1994; 8.
- George WH, Dermen KH, Nochajski TH. Expectancy set, self-reported expectancies and predispositional traits: predicting interest in violence and erotica. J Stud Alcohol. 1989; 50(6).
- Dermen KH, George WH. Alcohol expectancy and the relationship between drinking and physical aggression. J Psychol. 1989; 123(2).
- George WH, Dermen KH. Self-reported alcohol expectancies for self and other as a function of behavior type and dosage set. J Subst Abuse. 1988; 1(1).
Books and Book Chapters:
- Dermen KH. Secular Organizations for Sobriety. 2017.
- Collins RL, Dermen KH. Alcohol abuse and dependence. 2004; 1.
- Connors GJ, Maisto SA, Dermen KH. Alcohol-related expectancies and their applications to treatment. 1992; 3.
- Connors GJ, Dermen KH, Duerr M. SOS membership survey: Preliminary results. 1992.
Professional Memberships:
- Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (1997–present)
- American Psychological Association (1991–present)
- Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (1990–present)