Welcome to the EAT Lab's ABCT conference page! You may scan QR codes on any poster or talk from the EAT Lab to get directed to this page. To see our work from previous years at ABCT, scroll down! Our ABCT 2021 virtual content is now being updated on a regular basis leading up to the conference.
For live updates, follow @uofleatlab on Twitter!
For live updates, follow @uofleatlab on Twitter!
Presenter:
Cheri Levinson, Ph.D. Lab Director Dr. Levinson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Louisville and Director of the EAT lab and clinic. Dr. Levinson’s research focuses on (a) understanding the high levels of comorbidity between eating and anxiety disorders and (b) applying empirically supported treatments for anxiety disorders, specifically exposure therapy, to the eating disorders. Correspondence: cheri.levinson@louisville.edu Twitter: @CheriLev |
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Presentation citation: Ralph-Nearman, C., Hunt, R. A., Levinson, C. A. (2021, November). Dynamic Relationships Among Feeling Fat, Fear of Weight Gain, and Eating Disorder Symptoms in an Eating Disorder Sample. In Ralph-Nearman, C., Brown, T. A. (Co-chairs), Incorporating underexplored emotions and bodily experiences into eating disorder research and treatment. Paper to be presented at the 55th annual convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT2021), New Orleans, LA, USA, Virtual.
Ralph-Nearman, C., Brown, T. A. (Co-chairs), & Levinson, C. A. (Discussant), Smith, A. R., Anderson, L. M., & Brown, C. S. (2021, November). Incorporating underexplored emotions and bodily experiences into eating disorder research and treatment. Symposium to be presented at the 55th annual convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT2021), New Orleans, LA, USA, Virtual. |
Presenter: Christina Ralph-Nearman, Ph.D.
Post-doctoral Associate Dr. Ralph-Nearman is a Post-doctoral Fellow in the EAT Lab in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Louisville. Dr. Ralph-Nearman's main research focuses are: 1) Developing innovative tools with objective methods that implicitly detect, assess, prevent, and treat eating disorders; 2) Individual differences, underlying mechanisms, and illness trajectory of eating disorders. Dr. Ralph-Nearman is co-chairing an ABCT panel examining unexplored emotions and bodily experiences in eating disorder research and treatment longitudinally. This presentation is the first research investigating dynamic relationships among feeling fat, fear of weight gain, and eating disorder symptoms in an eating disorder sample. This panel will be on Friday, November 19th at 1:30-3pm EST virtually at ABCT. Correspondence: christina.ralph-nearman@louisville.edu Twitter: @CRalphNearman |
Presenter: Brenna Williams, M.S.
4th Year Graduate Student Brenna is interested in studying self-relations, such as self-criticism and self-compassion, as transdiagnostic factors that contribute to the high rates of psychiatric comorbidity among eating disorders. She is passionate about studying the impact of self-criticism and self-compassion on eating disorder symptoms and the integration of compassion-focused interventions for eating disorders. She hopes to develop transdiagnostic treatments for eating disorders that target eating disorders and other co-occurring symptoms of psychopathology simultaneously. Outside of her research and clinical work, Brenna practices yoga, enjoys playing videogames, and takes hikes with her dog Hera. Correspondence: brenna.williams.1@louisville.edu Twitter: @psychbren |
Citation: Williams, B. M., Ralph-Nearman, C., & Levinson, C. A. (2021, November). Investigating Clinical Perfectionism in a Transdiagnostic Eating Disorder Sample Using Network Analysis. Poster to be presented at the annual convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, virtual.
Citation: Williams, B. M., Keshishian, A.C., & Levinson, C. A. (2021, November). Anorexia Nervosa and Atypical Anorexia Nervosa Do Not Significantly Differ in Dimensions of Perfectionism. Poster to be presented at the annual convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, virtual.
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Citation: Hunt, R.A., Keshishian, A.C., Fan, S.C., & Levinson, C.A. (2021, November). Using Real-Time Monitoring of Emotion Regulation Skills During Mealtimes to Understand Illness Trajectories in Eating Disorders. In Hunt, R.A., & Wang, S.B. (co-chairs), What happens after people leave treatment? Examining transdiagnostic illness trajectories and transitions during critical periods. Paper to be presented at the 55th annual convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Virtual.
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Presenter: Rowan Hunt, B.A.
3rd Year Graduate Student Rowan Hunt is a third year graduate student in the EAT lab. Rowan's research interests include the shared affective mechanisms underlying eating disordered behaviors and other impulsive behaviors, and how such shared mechanisms can be targeted through treatment. Additionally, she is also interested in trajectories of illness in EDs (e.g., predictors of recovery, remission, and relapse). In her free time, Rowan enjoys cooking, seeing live music, and trying her hand at ceramics. Correspondence: rowan.hunt1@louisville.edu Twitter: @rowanahunt |
Presenter: Mackenzie Brown 2nd Year Graduate Student Mackenzie’s research is focused on improving our understanding of eating disorders and comorbid psychopathology at the individual level. She is particularly interested in identifying and examining eating disorder fears and studying how these fears lead to the persistence and reemergence of eating disorder pathology. Correspondence: mackenzie.brown.2@louisville.edu Twitter: @_MLBrown_ |
Citation: Brown, M.L. & Levinson, C.A. (2021, November). Core Eating Disorder Fears: An Examination of Prevalence Rates and Differences in Eating Disorder Fears Across Eating Disorder Diagnoses. In Brown, M.L. (chair), Here a Fear, There a Fear, Everywhere an Eating Disorder Fear: Heterogeneity and Treatment of Eating Disorder Fears. Paper to be presented at the 55th annual convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Virtual.
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Citation: Cusack, C.E. & Levinson, C.A. (2021, November). Characterizing Eating Disorder-Specific Interoceptive Concerns Among Individuals with Eating Disorders and an At-Risk Community Sample. Poster to be presented at the annual convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, virtual.
Citation: Cusack, C.E., Vanzhula, I.A., & Levinson, C.A. (2021, November). Interoceptive Sensitivity Among Individuals with Eating Disorder Symptoms: How Do Specific Interoceptive Concerns Relate to Eating Disorder Symptoms? Poster to be presented at the annual convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, virtual.
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Presenter: Claire E. Cusack, M.A.
1st Year Graduate Student Claire Cusack is a first-year graduate student in the EAT Lab. Claire is interested in exploring maintenance symptoms of eating disorders and comorbidities. They are particularly interested in utilizing idiographic statistical methods and incorporating physiological data to understand the heterogeneity of eating disorder symptoms and to inform tailored treatments. In their free time, Claire enjoys trail running, reading novels, and playing board games. Correspondence: claire.cusack@louisville.edu Twitter: @ClaireECusack |
Presenter:
Luis Sandoval-Araujo, B. A. Study Coordinator Luis is a study coordinator for the NIMH-funded Predicting Eating Disorder Recovery Study. Prior to joining the EAT Lab, Luis worked on a number of projects at the FIU Center for Children and Families. Luis is primarily interested in how eating disorders and anxiety disorders interact with each other, particularly viewing anxiety as a developmental risk factor or moderating variable in later disordered eating behaviors and cognitions. Correspondence: Luis.Sandoval-Araujo@louisville.edu Twitter: @LSandovalAraujo |
Citation: Sandoval-Araujo, L.E., Pennesi, J., & Levinson, C.A. (2021, November). Shame, Guilt, and Pride Moderate the Relationship Between Social Appearance Anxiety and Eating Disorder Symptoms. Poster to be presented at the annual convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, virtual.
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Citation: Penwell, T., Smith, M., Khoday, A., Brooks, G., & Thompson-Brenner, H. (2021, November). Examining Preliminary Outcomes for a Virtual Partial Hospital Program for Eating Disorders. Poster to be presented at the annual convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, virtual.
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Presenter: Taylor Penwell, B.A.
Study Coordinator Taylor (Gardner) Penwell (B.A. Ohio University) is the Study Coordinator for the NIMH funded Relapse-Prevention Study. Taylor received her Bachelor of Arts with Departmental Honors from Ohio University where she majored in Psychology and minored in Biological Sciences. After receiving her bachelor's degree, Taylor worked as the Research Coordinator for The Renfrew Center where she examined treatment outcomes for an emotion-focused treatment for eating disorders. While at Renfrew, Taylor developed research interests focused on understanding risk factors for relapse in eating disorders. Correspondence: taylor.gardner.1@louisville.edu Twitter: @TaylorE_Penwell |
Presenter:
Betty Ngo Research Assistant This cross-sectional study explores shame, social appearance anxiety, and concern over mistakes to both eating disorders (ED) and anxiety in a comorbidity model. Participants were adolescent females from an all-girls high school who took part in the Body Project program. Shame was significantly associated with both anxiety and ED, social appearance anxiety was only associated with ED, and CM was only associated with anxiety. This supports shame being the only shared correlate of both ED and anxiety, and current research supports that those with eating disorders exhibit generalized shame, beyond just their eating behavior. It is thus possible that shame maintains both eating disorder and anxiety symptoms by fueling avoidance behaviors. Thus, targeting shame can alleviate this comorbidity. Correspondence: betty.ngo@louisville.edu Twitter: @bettykimngo |
Citation: Ngo, B.K., Brosof, L.C., & Levinson, C.A. (2021, November). Shame is the Shared Maintenance Factor in an Eating Disorder-Anxiety Symptom Comorbidity Model in Female Adolescents. Poster to be presented at the annual convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, virtual.
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Citation: Ernst, S.E., Ralph-Nearman, C., Spoor, S.P., Vanzhula, I.A., & Levinson, C.A. (2021, November). Identifying Central Symptoms Among Disgust Sensitivity, Shame, Guilt, Food Avoidance, Body Mass Index, and Eating Disorder Symptoms. Poster to be presented at the annual convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, virtual.
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Presenter: Sarah Ernst
Lab Manager Sarah Ernst is a Master's of Counseling Student in her first year at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She graduated from the University of Louisville in December 2019 with her Bachelor's in Psychology, and served as a lab manager for the EAT Lab through Spring 2021. Her research interests center around early intervention for eating disorders, as well as the relationship between eating pathology and autism spectrum disorder. In her free time, Sarah enjoys hiking, exploring new restaurants, and photography. |
EAT Lab @ ABCT 2020 Schedule:
| abct_eat_talks_2020.pdf |
Presenter: Dr. Cheri A. Levinson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, University of Louisville Director, EAT Lab Clinical Director, Louisville Center for Eating Disorders Dr. Levinson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Louisville and Director of the EAT lab and clinic. Dr. Levinson’s research focuses on (a) understanding the high levels of comorbidity between eating and anxiety disorders and (b) applying empirically supported treatments for anxiety disorders, specifically exposure therapy, to the eating disorders. Dr. Levinson has published more than 95 peer-reviewed manuscripts and chapters and has been the primary investigator on several national grants and awards. She has received several awards for her work from the Academy for Eating Disorders, including the 2015 Outstanding Scientific Contribution Award. Dr. Levinson was also awarded the 2020 American Psychological Foundation Theodore Blau Award for an Early Investigator who has made an outstanding contribution to Clinical Psychology. Dr. Levinson’s clinical work focuses primarily on treating patients with eating disorders using CBT, DBT, and other empirically-based treatments. |
For correspondence, please email cheri.levinson@louisville.edu
Dr. Levinson's Twitter: @CheriLev Obesity & Eating Disorder (OED) SIG Twitter: @ABCT_OED Lab & Clinic Twitter: @uofleatlab @ced_louisville |
Presenter: Irina Vanzhula, M.S.
6th Year Graduate Student Pronouns: She/Her Irina Vanzhula (M.A. Saint-Petersburg State University; M.S. University of Louisville) is a 6th year graduate student. Irina is currently completing her predoctoral internship at the University of Chicago Medicine. Her research aims to improve eating disorder treatment outcomes by applying mindfulness and acceptance-based approaches to the treatment of eating disorders, and using novel applications of methodology (e.g., EMA, sensor technology) and statistical techniques (e.g., network analysis, machine learning) to identify intervention targets. |
Please send correspondence to Irina at irina.vanzhula@louisville.edu.
Twitter: @IrinaVanzhula |
Presenter: Brenna Williams, B.A.
3rd Year Graduate Student Pronouns: She/Her Brenna Williams (B.A. Southern Methodist University) is a 3rd year graduate student in the EAT Lab. Brenna is interested in researching self-relations in eating disorders, including self-criticism and self-perception. She is passionate about studying the impact of self-compassion on eating disorder symptoms and the integration of compassion-focused interventions for eating disorders. Brenna is currently studying the feasibility and impact of a mindful self-compassion group workshop for individuals with eating disorders. In her free time, Brenna enjoys yoga, reading, and (aggressively) dismantling diet culture. |
Please send correspondence to Brenna at brenna.williams.1@louisville.edu
Twitter: @brenwilli95 |
Presenter: Caroline Christian, B.S.
3rd Year Graduate Student Pronouns: She/Her Caroline Christian (B.S. University of Louisville) is a 3rd year graduate student in the EAT Lab. Caroline’s research interests include novel applications of technology and advanced statistical methods to better understand and develop treatments for eating disorders, especially across critical risk periods. Caroline's talk, "Electrodermal Activity and Heart Rate Variability During Exposure Fear Scripts Predict Eating Disorder Symptoms" won the Obesity and Eating Disorder (OED) Special Interest Group (SIG) Graduate Student Research Award! |
Please direct correspondence to Caroline at caroline.christian@louisville.edu
Twitter: @cbchri02 |
Presenter: Ani Keshishian, B.A.
2nd Year Graduate Student Pronouns: She/Her Ani Keshishian (B.A. Boston University) is a second year graduate student in the EAT lab. Ani is interested in conducting translational research using novel technology to capture the transdiagnostic mechanisms underlying comorbid psychopathology in eating disorders. Ani is also interested in improving treatment outcomes by adapting current evidence-based treatments as well as developing novel treatments while also taking into consideration the prevalence of comorbidity in eating disorders. |
Please send correspondence to Ani at ani.keshishian@louisville.edu
Twitter: @ACKeshishian |
Presenter: Rowan Hunt, B.A.
2nd Year Graduate Student Pronouns: She/Her Rowan (B.A. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) is a second year graduate student in the EAT lab. Rowan's research interests include the shared affective mechanisms underlying eating disordered behaviors and other impulsive behaviors, and how such shared mechanisms can be targeted through treatment. Additionally, she is also interested in trajectories of illness in EDs (e.g., predictors of recovery, remission, and relapse). |
Please send correspondence to Rowan at rowan.hunt@louisville.edu
Twitter: @rowanahunt |
Presenter: Sam Spoor, B.S.
Study Coordinator Pronouns: She/her Sam studied Psychology and Human Development at the University at Albany, with a concentration in Counseling Psychology. During her time as a Study Coordinator at the EAT Lab, Sam's research interests have evolved to focus on sociocultural risk factors (e.g., diet culture, weight stigma) of eating pathology, as well as barriers to accessing eating disorder treatment and recovery both broadly, and specifically for folks with marginalized sexual and gender identities. Sam intends to continue this work in a Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program.
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Please direct correspondence to samantha.spoor@louisville.edu
Twitter: @Samantha.Spoor |
Presenter: Sarah Ernst, B.S.
Lab Manager Pronouns: She/Her Sarah is a lab manager for the EAT Lab. She recently graduated from UofL, obtaining her B.S. in Psychology, with minors in Biology and Spanish. She plans to earn her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. Due to her experiences with children with disabilities and in the EAT Lab, she has developed interests in pediatric eating behaviors, early prevention, and comorbidities between autism and eating pathology. |
Please direct all correspondence for Sarah's posters to sarah.ernst.1@louisville.edu
Twitter: @sarahe_16 |
Presenter: Claire Cusack, B.A.
Lab Manager Pronouns: They/Them Claire Cusack (B.A. Agnes Scott College) is a master's student at Towson University working with Dr. M. Paz Galupo. Claire is interested in researching eating disorders and body image concerns in sexual and gender minorities. They are also interested in studying comorbid diagnoses in LGBTQ+ individuals through the minority stress and emotion regulation frameworks to better understand transdiagnostic risk factors related to eating disorders and co-occurring problems, such as substance use and suicidality. After they complete their master's degree, they plan to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology to continue studying eating disorders in individuals with marginalized identities. |
Please send correspondence for this poster to Claire at claire.cusack@louisville.edu Twitter: @ClaireECusack |
Presenter: Jordan Drake
Undergraduate Research Assistant Pronouns: She/her Jordan is a senior at the University of Louisville and is majoring in Psychology with minors in Communication and Spanish. After graduating, she intends to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology. She is interested in how trauma in children leads to the development of eating disorders and other comorbid disorders later in life. She is also interested in how social factors, like social media, affect the development of eating disorders, especially in adolescents. |
Please direct correspondence to Jordan at jordan.drake.1@louisville.edu
Twitter: @jordannn_drake |
Presenter: Emma Roberts
Undergraduate Research Assistant Pronouns: She/her Emma is a junior psychology student pursuing a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Louisville. After undergrad, she intends to obtain a doctoral degree in clinical psychology and continue working in the eating disorder field. Her research interests include the effects of social media on disordered eating, the relationship between trauma and disordered eating, and the comorbidity of eating disorders with other psychological disorders. |
Please direct correspondence to Emma at emma.roberts@louisville.edu
Twitter: @egcroberts |
EAT Lab at ABCT 2019 Schedule:
Keep Scrolling for more information about talks, posters, & presenters!
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Presenter: Dr. Cheri Levinson, Ph.D. Lab Director Dr. Levinson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Louisville and the Clinical Director of the Louisville Center for Eating Disorders. Dr. Levinson's research is focused on understanding the high levels of comorbidity between eating and anxiety disorders as well as on applying empirically supported treatments for anxiety disorders, such as exposure therapy. |
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Full Cite: Levinson, C. A., Christian, C., & Vanzhula, I. A. (2019). Manipulating the theoretical framing of exposure therapy for eating disorders impacts clinicians’ treatment preferences. Eating and Weight Disorders-Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity, 1-8. Full Paper Below (click to download):
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Follow Dr. Levinson on Twitter: @CheriLev Follow the EAT Lab on Twitter: @uofleatlab |
Presenter: Irina Vanzhula, M.S.
5th Year Graduate Student Irina is interested in applying network analysis to the study of eating disorder psychopathology, and specifically comorbidities. Additionally, Irina is interested in mindfulness-based treatments for eating disorders and maladaptive eating behaviors. Irina is currently working to empirically evaluate the effectiveness of a 4-week mindful eating workshop that she conducted in collaboration with the UofL Heath Promotions Office, as well as working on developing and evaluating a brief treatment for self-criticism, guilt, and shame. For all correspondance, please email Irina at irina.vanzhula@louisville.edu Twitter: @IrinaVanzhula |
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Paper: Williams, B. M. & Levinson, C. A. (under review). Negative beliefs about the self prospectively predict eating disorder symptoms among undergraduate women.
For all correspondance regarding Brenna's work, please email her at brenna.williams.1@louisville.edu Twitter: @brenwilli95 |
Presenter: Brenna Williams, B.A.
2nd Year Graduate Student Brenna is a second-year graduate student in the EAT Lab who is interested in examining ways to improve eating disorder treatments. Specifically, Brenna is interested in therapeutic mechanisms that could reduce eating disorder thoughts. 
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Presenter: Caroline Christian, B.S. Second Year Graduate Student Caroline is interested in applying technology and advanced statistical methods to studying and treating eating disorders. For all correspondence, please email Caroline at caroline.christian@louisville.edu Twitter: @cbchri02 See below for the full text papers on 1) implementing an eating disorder prevention program in Southern, all-female high schools and 2) eating disorder age networks.
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Presenter: Rowan Hunt, B.A. First Year Graduate Student Rowan's research interests include the affective mechanisms underlying eating disorders, self-injury, and other impulsive behaviors, and how such mechanisms can be targeted through treatment. Additionally, she is interested in predictors of recovery, remission, and relapse in eating disorders. For all correspondence, email Rowan at: rowan.hunt@louisville.edu Twitter: @rowanahunt   
Presenter: Sarah Ernst
Lab Manager Sarah is graduating from the University of Louisville in December 2019 with a B.S. in Psychology and minors in Biology and Spanish. Sarah is interested in pediatric eating disorders and comorbidities between autism and eating pathology. In November, Sarah completed her senior theses examining the relationship between perfectionism and exercise dependency. During her time at U of L, Sarah has been actively involved with the Body Project and spent the Summer of 2019 completing independent research as a Summer Research Opportunity Program (SROP) scholar. For all correspondence regarding her research, please email her at sarah.ernst.1@louisville.edu. Twitter: @sarahe_16 |
Presenter: Sam Spoor, B.S.
Study Coordinator Before joining the EAT Lab as the Study Coordinator, Sam worked as an undergraduate research assistant under the supervision of Dr. Julia Hormes and Dr. Drew Anderson at the University at Albany, State University of New York. Sam is interested in sociocultural factors that inform the development and maintenance of eating disorder symptomology, as well as barriers to eating disorder treatment. For all correspondence, please email spspoo01@louisville.edu. Twitter: @SamanthaSpoor |
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Presenter: Shruti Shankar Ram, B.S.
Former Lab Manager Shruti was the lab manager at the EAT Lab from 2017-2019. She is currently a first-year doctoral student at Miami University. She is interested in researching transdiagnostic risk factors in eating disorders and comorbid illnesses, with a particular interest in the shared vulnerabilities between eating disorders and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). She is currently exploring the role of eating disorder-related intrusive thoughts in contributing towards eating disorder and OCD symptoms. For all correspondence, please email shankas@miamioh.edu. Twitter: @ShrutiShankRam |
