Stephen A. Lisman Lecture Series in Clinical Psychology:
Friday, September 20, 2024 4:00 p.m. | Anderson Center Chamber Hall
"Clinical Virtual Reality: A Brief Review of the Future"
Since the mid-1990s, a substantial body of scientific literature has emerged on the
outcomes associated with Clinical Virtual Reality (VR). VR simulation technology has
shown promising results in addressing cognitive, psychological, motor, and functional
impairments across a range of clinical conditions.
This presentation will briefly describe the various forms of VR technology and outline
the evolution of Clinical VR over the past 25 years. We will explore its applications
in assessing and treating anxiety disorders, PTSD, pain management, autism, ADHD,
as well as its role in rehabilitating stroke, brain injury, and other neurological
conditions. Additionally, the presentation will cover advances in Virtual Human technology
for clinical training, healthcare coaching, and interviewing.
Although further research is needed to advance the science in this field, the current
literature is positive, and technological improvements have made this type of care
more accessible and less complex. I will argue that Clinical VR applications are poised
to become essential tools for healthcare researchers and practitioners, with growing
relevance, impact, and popularity in the near future.
Speaker: Albert Rizzo, Ph.D.
Albert Rizzo, Ph.D.
Albert “Skip” Rizzo is a Clinical and Neuropsychologist and the Director of the Medical
VR Lab at the University of Southern California's Institute for Creative Technologies.
He also serves as a research professor in both the USC Department of Psychiatry and
the School of Gerontology. Skip's research focuses on the design, development, and
evaluation of VR systems for clinical assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation.
In the psychological domain, he led the development and implementation of the Virtual
Iraq/Afghanistan VR exposure therapy system for treating combat-related PTSD and is
working on adapting these simulation assets for PTSD assessment and prevention (stress
resilience). His cognitive research involves using VR applications to test and train
cognitive functions.
In the motor domain, he creates VR game-based applications to promote rehabilitation
for individuals with CNS dysfunctions, such as stroke and TBI. Skip is also involved
in developing artificially intelligent virtual human patients for clinical training
and online virtual human healthcare guides to reduce barriers to psychological health
and TBI care.
His contributions have been widely recognized. In 2010, he received the American Psychological
Association Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Practice of Trauma Psychology
for his VR exposure therapy work for PTSD. In 2015, he was honored with the Society
for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics’ “Pioneer in Medicine” award. Additionally, he
received the 2019 American Psychological Association Society for Military Psychology
Presidential Citation for his trauma work and the 2020 International Society for Traumatic
Stress Studies Innovation Award. Most recently, he was awarded the 2023 IEEE Computer
Society VR Lifetime Achievement Award.
"Rewards and the Mood Rollercoaster: A Reward Hypersensitivity Perspective on Bipolar
Spectrum Disorders"
Lauren B. Alloy, Laura H. Carnell Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience and the
Joseph Wolpe Distinguished Faculty in Psychology and Neuroscience at Temple University.
Lauren B. Alloy, an internationally recognized researcher in mood disorders, recently
presented her work on the Reward Hypersensitivity Model of Bipolar Spectrum Disorders
(BSDs). She explained how an overly sensitive reward system can lead to extreme fluctuations
in goal-seeking and reward responsiveness, resulting in hypomania/mania and depression.
During her presentation, Alloy shared evidence that reward hypersensitivity is a vulnerability
factor for the onset and worsening of BSDs. She discussed how reward-relevant life
events can trigger bipolar episodes and examined the neural reward system responses
and correlates of vulnerability to BSDs. Additionally, Alloy highlighted the role
of social and circadian rhythm disruptions in mediating the effects of reward-relevant
life events on BSD symptoms.
She concluded by addressing the implications of reward hypersensitivity for the assessment
and treatment of BSDs.
"Contributions of Psychological Science to the Understanding and Treatment of Post-Traumatic
Stress Disorder (PTSD)"
Terence M. Keane, MA ’76, PHD ’79, SD ’11, National Center for PTSD VA Boston Healthcare System Boston University School of Medicine.
In the past four decades, we’ve experienced remarkable progress in our understanding
of the prevalence of trauma exposure and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), as
well as its assessment and treatment. Many of the advances have resulted from the
application of psychological principles to the development of strong clinical assessment
instruments and to the application of effective cognitive behavioral interventions
to this condition. Reviewing this remarkable progress from the vantage point of a
42-year observer and contributor–from the initial case studies that brought attention
to the disorder, to the construction of the most widely used assessment instruments,
to participation in President Obama’s National Research Action Plan (2013) that created
the Consortium to Alleviate PTSD, this presentation highlighted the current status
of psychological treatments for PTSD while providing insights into innovative new
directions for future work.
"What Is Psychopathic Personality? Personal Reflections from a Bumpy 30-Year Scientific
Journey"
Scott Lilienfeld, Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of Psychology at Emory University
in Atlanta.
This presentation discussed Scott Lilienfeld's research of the nature and boundaries
of psychopathic personality (psychopathy) from the perspective of his own research
program, and those of others. Lilienfeld argued that psychopathy is not a single,
unified entity and that longstanding efforts (including his own) to identify its cause(s)
have been largely misguided. Lilienfeld offered evidence that psychopathy is instead
an "emergent interpersonal syndrome" marked by the co-occurrence of at least three
separable dispositions that, when present in conjunction, yield socially malignant
outcomes. Lilienfeld examined the implications of this controversial view for the
assessment, causes, treatment, and prevention of psychopathy.
"The Future of Psychological Treatments: Focus on Disorders of Emotion"
David H. Barlow, PhD, Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry Founder and Director
Emeritus, Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders Boston University.
This presentation discussed Barlow's research, creating and disseminating evidence
based treatments, developing the transdiagnostic model, and offering ideas about treatments
to come. Barlow highlighted the importance of the role of temperament and the development
of new assessment and interventions focusing on underlying common mechanisms of large
classes of disorders across the "neurotic spectrum." Finally, Barlow offered new data
on the efficacy of transdiagnostic approaches compared to more focused single diagnosis
treatments along with applications of this approach to different types of problems
such as eating disorders and trauma in global mental health contexts. Dr. Barlow generously
made his slides available to students and alumni; you can request a copy from Mary Ellen Gates.
"Alcohol and Drug Problems: How Lessons from Clinicians and Researchers are Shaping
Treatment"
Barbara S. McCrady, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Psychology Director of The Center
on Alcoholism, Substance Abuse, and Addictions (CASAA) University of New Mexico.
This presentation discussed the evolution of alcohol and drug treatment in the last
40 years, and how the dynamic interplay between research and clinical practice has
shaped that evolution. McCrady talked about research on the structure of the treatment
delivery system, mutual help groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, specific behavioral
treatments, and underserved populations. McCrady also discussed the implications of
the changing demography of the U.S. and how changing models for delivery of health
care services may impact alcohol and drug treatment and research. Dr. McCrady generously
made her slides available to students and alumni; you can request a copy from Mary Ellen Gates.
"Suicide: Where We Are, Where We're Going and What's Keeping Us From Getting there"
Marsha Linehan, PhD, Professor, Department of Psychology Director, Behavioral Research
and Therapy Clinics University of Washington.
The presentation discussed where the field of suicide intervention research started,
the successes and failures that have been encountered thus far, as well as the critical
issues that still need to be addressed in order to move the field forward. It included
a summary of the suicide intervention research trials to date and the directions the
field is heading toward addressing the complex problem of suicidal behavior.
Stephen A. Lisman Lecture Series in Clinical Psychology
The Stephen A. Lisman Annual Lecture in Clinical Psychology was established in 2015
to sponsor an annual lecture given by a top clinical psychologist in the nation. The
lecture series is in honor of Professor Lisman's 43 years of service and his contributions
to Binghamton University and the clinical psychology field. The series is meant to
enhance the quality of training and education and expose students, faculty and the
Binghamton community to important topics in the profession.
Thank you to all of the alumni and friends whose generosity makes this annual event
possible. Please join us in enhancing the graduate education of clinical psychology
students at Binghamton, and provide leadership to practicing clinicians in the community.
To support the Stephen A. Lisman lecture series make a gift today.
