Christina Psaros

Dr. Christina Psaros is a clinical psychologist in the Behavioral Medicine Program, where she is also the Associate Director. She is an Associate Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School (HMS) and a faculty member of the Qualitative Research Unit in the Division of Clinical Research at MGH. Dr. Psaros received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology (with a health psychology concentration) in 2008 and did her internship and postdoctoral fellowship at MGH/HMS.

Dr. Psaros’ clinical practices focuses on women’s health, and optimizing the health of individuals who are living with chronic illness. She is the Director of the Behavioral Medicine elective of the internship in clinical psychology at MGH and provides mentorship to junior investigators, post-doctoral fellows, and other mentees/students around qualitative methods, intervention development, and behavioral science.

Clinical Interests:

• Anxiety and depression
• Behavioral medicine
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• HIV disease in pregnancy
• Infertility - female
• Postpartum Depression
• Women's mental health

Education

• Ph.D. Drexel University (2003 — 2008)
• B.A. Saint Anselm College (1998 — 2001)

Publications

Psaros C, Stanton AM, Raggio GA, Mosery N, Goodman GR, Briggs ES, Williams M, Bangsberg D, Smit J, Safren SA. Optimizing PMTCT adherence by treating depression in perinatal women living with HIV in South Africa: A pilot randomized controlled trial. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine. Forthcoming 2022.

Stanton AM, Goodman GR, Robbins GK, Looby SE, Williams J, Psaros C, Raggio G. Preventing cardiovascular disease in midlife women living with HIV: An examination of facilitators and barriers to heart health behaviors. Journal of Women & Aging. Forthcoming 2022.

Bassett IV, Govere S, Millham L, Frank SC, Dladla N, Thulare H, Psaros C. Contraception, HIV Services, and PrEP in South African Hair Salons: A Qualitative Study of Owner, Stylist, and Client Perspectives. J Community Health. 2019 Dec;44(6):1150-1159. doi: 10.1007/s10900-019-00698-7. PMID: 31280429; PMCID: PMC6800398.

Psaros C, Freeman M, Safren SA, Barsky M, Cohen LS. Discontinuation of antidepressants during attempts to conceive: A pilot trial of CBT for prevention of recurrent depression. J Clin Psychopharmacol 2014; 34:455-460, PMID 24911438.