Deborah J. Brief, PhD

Assistant Professor, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Biography

Dr. Brief is the Section Chief for Substance Abuse Treatment Services in VA Boston Healthcare System and an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology at Boston University. She received her Doctorate in Psychology from the University of Illinois-Chicago in 1984 and completed an NIAAA post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Washington in 1987. She is a clinical supervisor and faculty member in the Boston Consortium in Clinical Psychology Internship Training Program and the VA Boston Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship Training Program.

Dr. Brief’s research has focused on evaluating the effectiveness of psychosocial and pharmacological treatment interventions for alcohol and drug dependence, and co-occurring substance use and posttraumatic stress disorder. Most recently she has begun to research the effectiveness of web-based interventions to address problem drinking and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder in returning veterans. Her research has been funded by NIAAA, the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) and the VA.

Publications

  • Published 10/3/2023

    Polizzi CP, Sistad RE, Livingston NA, Brief D, Litwack S, Roy M, Solhan M, Rosenbloom D, Keane TM. Alcohol-Related Problems As Moderators of PTSD Symptom Change During Use of a Web-Based Intervention for Hazardous Drinking and PTSD. J Stud Alcohol Drugs. 2024 Jan; 85(1):51-61. PMID: 37796630.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 3/10/2023

    Sistad RE, Livingston NA, Crowe ML, Newberger N, Spitzer E, Brief D, Litwack S, Helmuth E, Roy M, Solhan M, Rosenbloom D, Keane TM. Network analysis of reasons for and against changing alcohol use among veterans engaged in a web-based intervention for hazardous drinking and PTSD symptoms. Addict Behav. 2023 Aug; 143:107689. PMID: 36924646.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 1/16/2023

    Sistad RE, Enggasser J, Livingston NA, Brief D. Comparing substance use treatment initiation and retention between telehealth delivered during COVID-19 and in-person treatment pre-COVID-19. Am J Addict. 2023 May; 32(3):301-308. PMID: 36645267.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 3/7/2022

    Newberger NG, Yeager S, Livingston NA, Enggasser JL, Brief DJ, Litwack S, Helmuth E, Roy M, Rosenbloom D, Keane TM. Life satisfaction following treatment-related reductions in alcohol use and PTSD symptoms: Results from VetChange. Psychol Trauma. 2023 Nov; 15(8):1299-1306. PMID: 35254847.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 1/13/2022

    Possemato K, Wu J, Greene C, MacQueen R, Blonigen D, Wade M, Owen J, Keane T, Brief D, Lindley S, Prins A, Mackintosh MA, Carlson E. Web-Based Problem-solving Training With and Without Peer Support in Veterans With Unmet Mental Health Needs: Pilot Study of Feasibility, User Acceptability, and Participant Engagement. J Med Internet Res. 2022 01 13; 24(1):e29559. PMID: 35023846.

    Read at: PubMed

View All 23 Publications:   View Full Profile in BUMC

Other Positions

  • Graduate Faculty (Primary Mentor of Grad Students)
    Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Graduate Medical Sciences

Websites

Education

  • University of Illinois, PhD
  • University of Illinois, MA
  • University of Pennsylvania, BA

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