Students in this research focus complete their practicum requirements by taking the general practicum in their second year, and selecting an adult advanced or specialty practicum in their third year. It is recommended that students choose a third-year specialty practicum related to their research focus, if one is available. In addition, students may request that they be assigned cases related to their area of interest when it is possible and feasible for the Clinic to do this.

All students in the Adult Clinical Specialty take classes related to adult psychopathology and receive training in adult assessment and treatment as part of the core program. Students may elect to pursue advanced training in adult psychopathology by choosing it as a research focus. The adult psychopathology research focus is defined by related coursework and clinical training experiences. Students complete all departmental and clinical core course requirements, as well as the clinical program's requisite number of elective credits.

Psychopathology research is broadly defined as investigation into the nature and origins of mental disorders, and into the factors that affect the course and outcome of these disorders. The training for the research focus in adult psychopathology involves engagement in research, in collaboration with a faculty mentor, on a topic related to adult psychopathology. During the course of graduate training, a student in this research focus works toward identifying and developing a particular research interest area of his/her own within the general area of the mentor's expertise.

Dr. Michael Alosco - Assistant Professor of Neurology, Boston University Alzheimer's Disease and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center

Dr. Dayana Calvo - Staff Neuropsychologist, Bay Pines VA

Dr. Andrew Fedor - Clinical Neuropsychologist, Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute, Alina Health

Dr. Yossef Ben-Porath:  Assessment of personality and psychopathology.

Dr. Joel Hughes:  Psychological and social factors in cardiovascular health and disease.

Dr. John Gunstad studies the effects of medical conditions on neurocognitive functioning and how health behaviors (e.g., diet and exercise) influence cognition.

Dr. Mary Beth Spitznagel studies caregiver burden, burden transfer, dementia, wellness, occupational stress and burnout

Our group maintains an active research program, with multiple projects underway at all times. Primary areas of focus for our program include:

• Understanding neurocognitive effects of medical conditions like obesity and heart disease
• Developing non-pharmacologic interventions to reduce the risk of neurological disorders
• Understanding caregiver burden and finding ways to better help individuals providing informal care for their loved ones

Graduate students build clinical skills across multiple settings, including hospital-based inpatient and outpatient neuropsychology evaluations, academic testing in the KSU Psychology Clinic, concussion programs for Kent State University athletes, and memory screenings at community centers.  A wide variety of presenting problems are seen through these activities, including dementia (e.g., Alzheimer's disease), stroke, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and head injury.

Specialized coursework helps students develop expertise in clinical neuropsychology, including courses in Neuropsychological Assessment, Neuroanatomy, and Psychopharmacology. Additional classes are available to better understand mind-body connections, including such courses as Psychophysiological Psychology, Psychobiological Aspects of Health, Clinical Aspects of Health Psychology, among many others.