Kourtney Schroeder, Psy.D.
Clinical Psychologist & Assistant Professor
Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
University of Florida, College of Medicine- Jacksonville
Welcome back to The Health Psychologist e-zine! Spring is a season of renewal—and for me, it has also brought the arrival of my newest little one. I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude to Drs. Grace Kao and Hana Kim for their incredible support during my leave. Their dedication helped ensure the smooth continuation of this e-zine, which remains a vital platform for exploring important topics in health psychology.
This Spring issue features a diverse collection of articles offering insights into key areas of health psychology that impact both clinicians and patients.
Our Division President, Dr. Stephanie Fitzpatrick, courageously shares her thoughts on the current state of our country and the ways she is navigating the ongoing societal changes. Riley O’Neill emphasizes the importance of understanding the core processes of daily stress, shedding light on the often-overlooked impact of environmental vigilance on well-being and the need for further research in this field.
Given the high prevalence of chronic pain among veterans, Nick Powers explores the intersection of PTSD and chronic pain, emphasizing the importance of a multimodal approach for effective treatment. Similarly, Dr. Robert Kerns discusses the NIH-DOD-VA Pain Management Collaboratory and its efforts to enhance pain care within the Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs.
This issue also spotlights critical women’s health topics. Dr. Huriye Deniz Koçaş presents her research on the connections between endometriosis self-stigma, menstrual self-stigma, and depressive symptoms among individuals with endometriosis. Meanwhile, Drs. Antonia Repollet and Ellen Joseph explore inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) during pregnancy, shedding light on the link between maternal mental health and IBD, as well as strategies to enhance health outcomes for both parent and baby.
Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders are another important focus in this issue. Sonia Agarwal and colleagues examine the prevalence of GI issues among individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), emphasizing the importance of integrated care approaches to improve patient outcomes.
Two additional pieces address chronic illness and mental health. Dr. Beverly Thorn highlights the need for stress management strategies for individuals with dementia and their caregivers, while Madeline Foster presents evidence supporting mindfulness as an effective intervention for enhancing well-being among individuals with cancer.
Additionally, Elena Silberman Scott highlights ongoing research aimed at refining alcohol use screening to assess not only the quantity of consumption but also its impact on an individual’s life.
The Eating Disorders and Body Image Interest Group of the Health Psychology Division, Drs. Anne Kubal and Andrea Seefelt, provide a compelling discussion on weight stigma in eating disorder treatment, critiquing the continued use of weight status as a severity marker. Their work serves as an invaluable resource for those committed to understanding and improving care for individuals with eating disorders.
Finally, as GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) medications gain widespread attention for their role in weight loss, Dr. Sarah Lyall-Neal explores the psychologist’s role in supporting behavioral changes and helping individuals navigate the emotional aspects of weight loss.
I hope this issue provides valuable insights and sparks meaningful discussions within the field. Thank you for being a part of our community, and happy reading! If you have questions or an idea for an article (membership is not required to contribute), please reach out at thehealthpsychologist@gmail.com.
Kindly,
Kourtney Schroeder, Psy.D.
Editor in Chief, The Health Psychologist