Dr. Timothy Apodaca's research focuses most broadly on the investigation of psychological treatment. He is particularly interested in testing brief forms of counseling to assist individuals in changing substance use behavior, and in seeking to identify active ingredients in psychotherapy. His research focuses on both adult and adolescent populations.

Biography

Dr. Apodaca is an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Community Health, where his clinical and research activities focus on Motivational Interviewing (MI), a style of communication designed to elicit behavior change. He is principal investigator on a grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism to investigate the mechanisms of action through which MI exerts its therapeutic effects. He completed his predoctoral internship as well as a postdoctoral fellowship in addictions studies at the Brown University School of Medicine. Dr. Apodaca has been involved in developing a variety of brief interventions to address alcohol use disorders in critical care settings such as emergency departments and trauma centers. He is also co-investigator on a study funded by the National Institute of Drug Abuse investigating the efficacy of MI for substance use disorders among adolescents with psychiatric comordity. Dr. Apodaca seeks to promote the dissemination of empirically supported treatments by providing clinical training in Motivational Interviewing in a variety of settings.

Research Description

Timothy Apodaca, PhD, is an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Community Health, where his clinical and research activities focus on Motivational Interviewing (MI). He is principal investigator on a grant from NIAAA to investigate the mechanisms of action through which MI exerts its therapeutic effects. Dr. Apodaca has been involved in developing a variety of brief interventions to address alcohol use disorders in critical care settings, such as emergency departments and trauma centers. He is a co-investigator on an NIH-funded study investigating the therapeutic mechanisms of brief MI-based interventions to reduce college student drinking and alcohol-related problems. He is also a co-investigator on a NIAAA-funded study of MI to reduce alcohol-related problems among hospital trauma patients.

Awards

National Institutes of Health, Clinical Research Loan Repayment Program, 2003-2007

Affiliations

American Psychological Association, 1997-present
Research Society on Alcoholism, 2000-present
Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers, 2002-present

Funded Research

Principal Investigator
"Identifying Mechanisms of Motivational Interviewing"
Agency: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Period: 04/01/05 – 03/31/10
Total Direct Costs: $680,677
Total Costs: $735,131

Co-Investigator
"Within-session Mechanisms of Behavior Change in At-risk College Students"
Agency: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Period: 8/1/2009-6/30/2013
Total Direct Costs: $995,189
Total Costs: $1,551,124
(PI: Brian Borsari, PhD)

Co-Investigator
"Enhanced MI with Alcohol Positive Trauma Patients"
Agency: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Period: 06/01/94 – 04/30/10
Total Direct Costs: $2,133,733
Total Costs: $3,131,486
(PI: Peter Monti, PhD)

Teaching Experience

Dr. Apodaca seeks to promote the dissemination of empirically supported psychosocial treatments for alcohol and drug use disorders by providing clinical training in Motivational Interviewing in a variety of settings. Recent examples include:

"The Use of Motivational Interviewing to Inform Brief Encounters with College Students." Invited Presentation at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration/Center for Substance Abuse Treatment Winter Meeting. Washington, D.C. 2006.

"Enhancing Substance Abuse Treatment Engagement Among Homeless Populations." Clinical workshop presented at St. Vincent Catholic Medical Centers, New York, NY. 2006.

"Motivating Sex Workers to Change Risk Behaviors." Clinical workshop presented at the University of California – San Francisco, Center for AIDS Prevention Studies. San Francisco, CA. 2005.

"Motivational Interviewing in a Methadone Maintenance Program for Recently Released Prisoners." Clinical workshop presented at the Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI. 2005.

"Integrating Motivational Interviewing with a Contingency-Based Housing Program to Treat Young Adult Homeless Substance Abusers." Clinical workshop presented at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. Denver, CO. 2005.

"Enhancing Motivation Among Family Drug Court Participants." Presentation to Kent County Court, Warwick, RI. 2005.

Selected Publications

• Apodaca, T. R., & Longabaugh, R. (2009) Mechanisms of change in motivational interviewing: A review and preliminary evaluation of the evidence. Addiction, 104, 705-715.(2009)
• Magill, M., Barnett, N. B., Apodaca, T. R., Rohsenow, D. J., & Monti, P. M. (2009). The role of marijuana use in brief motivational intervention with young adult drinkers treated in an emergency department. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 70, 409-413.(2009)
• Apodaca, T. R., & Longabaugh, R. (2009) That was then; this is now. Addiction, 104, 717-718.(2009)
• Apodaca, T. R., Abrantes, A. M., Strong, D. R., Ramsey, S. E., & Brown, R. A. (2007). Readiness to change smoking behavior among adolescents with a psychiatric disorder. Addictive Behaviors, 32 (6), 1119-1130.(2007)
• Apodaca, T. R., Miller, W. R., Schermer, C. R., & Amrhein, P. (2007). A pilot study of bibliotherapy to reduce alcohol problems among patients in a hospital trauma center. Journal of Addictions Nursing, 18 (4).(2007)
• Apodaca, T. R., & Monti, P. M. (2006). Substance abuse. In Kazantzis, N., & L'Abate, L. (Eds.) Handbook of homework assignments in psychotherapy: Research, practice, and prevention. New York: Springer.(2006)
• Apodaca, T. R., & Miller, W. R. (2003). A meta-analysis of the effectiveness of bibliotherapy for alcohol problems. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 59 (3), 289-304.(2003)
• Apodaca, T. R., & Schermer, C. R. (2003). Readiness to change alcohol use after trauma. Journal of Trauma, 54, (5), 990-994.(2003)
• Meyers, R. J., Apodaca, T. R., Flicker, S. M., & Slesnick, N. (2002). Evidence-based approaches for the treatment of substance abusers by involving family members. The Family Journal, 10 (3), 280-287.(2002)
• Schermer, C. R., Qualls, C. R., Brown, C. L., & Apodaca, T. R. (2001). Intoxicated motor vehicle passengers: An overlooked at-risk population. Archives of Surgery, 136, 1244-1248.(2001)
• Schermer, C. R., Apodaca, T. R., Albrecht, R. M., Lu, S. W., & Demarest, G. B. (2001). Intoxicated motor vehicle passengers warrant screening and treatment similar to intoxicated drivers. Journal of Trauma, 51 (6), 1083-1086.(2001)