Directories for:

Faculty

Staff

Graduate Students

Julie A. Suhr

Research Area:
Health, Intervention & Evaluation

Specializations:
Adult, Health

Contact Information:

Office: 249 Porter Hall

Phone: (740) 593-1091

E-mail: suhr@ohio.edu

Laboratories:

Clinical Neuropsychology Research

Research Interests:

My area of specialty is clinical neuropsychology, which I view as an integration of clinical psychology and neuroscience, or as my students put it “keeping the psychology in neuropsychology.” My research reflects this integration, and the importance of a good understanding of psychology in order to understand neuroscience.

One major topic of current research interest is the effect of psychological (non-neurological) variables on neuropsychological performance. Some of the psychological variables we have addressed in the laboratory include malingering, premorbid expectations for performance “diagnosis threat”, depression, and anxiety. We have examined their effects on neuropsychological performance, both in cognitively impaired persons (such as patients with dementia or head injury) in those who are neurologically normal but report cognitive problems (such as persons with chronic pain), or in those who may be worried about future cognitive decline (such as in the fear of Alzheimer’s seen in family members of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Currently 2 graduate students and 3 honor’s thesis students are working on studies in this general area.

Another major topic of current research interest is consideration of personality and other premorbid factors on executive functioning in substance abusers or individuals with head injury. Currently 3 graduate students are working on studies in this area.

2 graduate students and 1 honor’s thesis student are also working on a somewhat similar area, assessing neuropsychological performance and personality in adults who report symptoms of ADHD but have never been diagnosed with ADHD, adults who were diagnosed with ADHD as children, and controls.

I have also examined the neuropsychological aspects of various health factors such as hypertension (with Dr. France), dehydration (with Dr. Patterson), HIV/AIDS (with Dr. T. Heckman), and stress/cortisol reactivity (with Dr. Heffner). Currently 1 graduate student from my lab is working in the area of health neuropsychology.

Another major topic of interest is the psychological effects of neurological disorders, such as the personality and behavioral changes that accompany damage to the frontal lobes, and the psychological and behavioral difficulties that accompany Alzheimer's disease. I have also conducted research projects addressing the neuropsychological impairments seen in such neuropsychiatric conditions as schizophrenia, schizophrenic spectrum disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Recent Publications:

	Suhr, J.A., & Tsanadis, J. (in press). Affect and personality correlates of the Iowa Gambling Task. Personality and Individual Differences.
	Heckman, T.G., Barcikowski, R., Ogles, B., Suhr, J., Carlson, B., Holroyd, K., & Garske, J. (2006). A telephone-delivered coping improvement group intervention for middle-aged and older adults living with HIV/AIDS. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 32, 27-38.
	Greub, B., & Suhr, J. (2006). The validity of the Letter Memory Test as a measure of memory malingering: Robustness to coaching. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 21(4), 249-254.
	Suhr, J.A., Spitznagel, M.B., & Gunstad, J. (2006). An Obsessive-Compulsive Subtype of Schizotypy: Evidence from a Nonclinical Sample. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease.
	Stewart, J., France, C., & Suhr, J.A. (2006). The effect of cardiac cycle phase on reaction time among individuals at varying risk for hypertension. Journal of Psychophysiology, 20, 1-8.
	Suhr, J.A., & Gunstad, J. (2005). Further exploration of the effect of “diagnosis threat” on cognitive performance in individuals with mild head injury. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 11, 23-29.
	Barrash, J., Suhr, J.A., & Manzel, K. (2004). Detection of poor effort and malingering with an expanded version of the Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLTX): Validation with clinical samples. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 26, 125-140.
	Gunstad, J., & Suhr, J.A. (2004). Cognitive factors in postconcussion syndrome symptom report. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 19, 391-405.
	Spitznagel, M.B., & Suhr, J.A. (2004). Neuropsychological impairment associated with symptoms of schizotypy: Role of depressive and paranoid symptoms. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 192, 382-384.
	Suhr, J.A., Stewart, J.C., & France, C.R. (2004). The relationship between blood pressure and cognitive performance in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). Psychosomatic Medicine, 66, 291-297.
	Suhr, J.A., Hall, J., Patterson, S., & Tong Niinistro, R. (2004). The relation of hydration status to cognitive performance in healthy older adults. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 53, 121-125.
	Waltje, A.H., Heckman, T.G., Suhr, J.A., Garske, J.P., & Silverthorn, M. (2004). Predictors of nonadherence to antiretroviral therapies in HIV-infected older adults. The Ohio Psychologist, 51, 21-25.
	Suhr, J.A., Gunstad, J., Greub, B., & Barrash, J. (2004). Exaggeration Index for an Expanded Version of the Auditory Verbal Learning Test: Robustness to Coaching. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 26, 416-427.
	Gunstad, J., & Suhr, J.A. (2004). Use of the abbreviated Portland Digit Recognition Test in simulated malingering and neurological groups. Journal of Forensic Neuropsychology, 4(1), 33-48.
	Suhr, J.A. (2003). Neuropsychological impairment in fibromyalgia: The influence of pain, depression, and fatigue. Journal of Psychosomatic Research. 55, 321-329.
	Suhr, J.A. (2002). Malingering, coaching, and the serial position effect. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 17, 69-77.
	Gunstad, J., & Suhr, J.A. (2002). Perceptions of illness: Non-specificity of postconcussion syndrome symptom expectation. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 8, 37-47.
	Heckman, T.G., Davantes Heckman, B., Kochman, A., Suhr, J., & Goodkin, K. (2002). Psychological symptoms among persons 50 years of age and older living with HIV disease. Aging and Mental Health, 6, 121-128.
	Spitznagel, M.B., & Suhr, J.A. (2002). Executive function deficits associated with symptoms of schizotypy and obsessive compulsive disorder. Psychiatry Research, 110, 151-163.
	Suhr, J.A., & Gunstad, J. (2002). “Diagnosis threat”: The effect of negative expectations on cognitive performance. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 24, 448-457.
	Suhr, J.A., & Gunstad, J. (2002). PCS symptom report: The relative influence of head injury and depression. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 24, 981-93.

Recent Presentations:

Suhr, J., Keil, M., Demireva, P., Buelow, M., & Mark, E. (to be presented in February, 2007). The relationship of verbal and semantic fluency to cognitive performance in older adults. Annual meeting of the International Neuropsychological Society, Portland, OR.

Suhr, J., Dobbins-Buckland, K., & Hammers, D. (to be presented in February, 2007). Assessment of malingering in adults presenting for ADHD evaluation. Annual meeting of the International Neuropsychological Society, Portland, OR.

Hammers, D., & Suhr, J. (to be presented in February, 2007). The relation of sbutance use and abuse to personality and executive dysfunction. Annual meeting of the International Neuropsychological Society, Portland, OR.

Mark, E., & Suhr, J. (to be presented in February, 2007). Education moderates the relation of cognitive activity to performance on neuropsychological tests. Annual meeting of the International Neuropsychological Society, Portland, OR.

Suhr, J., Zimak, E., & Fox, L. (to be presented in February, 2007). Self-reported “ADHD” symptoms in adults with ADHD, mild TBI, or psychological disorders. Annual meeting of the International Neuropsychological Society, Portland, OR.

Suhr, J., Keil, M., Mark, E., Buelow, M. & Demireva, P. (to be presented in February, 2007). Relation of Executive Dysfunction to Memory Performance in an Assisted Living Population. Annual meeting of the International Neuropsychological Society, Portland, OR.

Lovejoy, T.I., Suhr, J., Heckman, T.G., Sikkema, K.J., Kochman, A., Hansen, N., & Neufeld, S. (to be presented in February, 2007). Neuropsychological functioning and risk behavior in persons 50-plus years of age living with HIV/AIDS. Annual meeting of the International Neuropsychological Society, Portland, OR.

Spitznagel, M.B., & Suhr, J. (May, 2006). Obsessive-compulsive features in schizotypal symptom clusters. Annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.

Lovejoy, T., Suhr, J., Heckman, T., Watakakosol, R., Hansen, N., Kochman, A., Neufeld, S., Wilson, P., & Sikkema, K. (March, 2006). Patterns and predictors of high-risk sexual behavior in older adults living with HIV/AIDS. Annual meeting of the Society for Behavioral Medicine, San Francisco, CA.

Suhr, J. & Spickard, B. (February, 2006). Exploration of the diagnosis treat effect in a chronic pain population. Annual meeting of the International Neuropsychological Society, Boston, MA.

Suhr, J., Hammers, D., & Tsanadis, J. (February, 2006). Does a generally risky personality contribute to IGT impairment in substance abuse? Annual meeting of the International Neuropsychological Society, Boston, MA.

Suhr, J., & Nemitz, J. (February, 2006). Diagnosis threat and neuropsychological performance in pregnancy. Annual meeting of the International Neuropsychological Society, Boston, MA.

Suhr, J. Heckman, T., Sikkema, K., Hansen, N., & Kochman, A. (February, 2006). Relation of Depression to Neuropsychological Performance in HIV+ Older Adults. Annual meeting of the International Neuropsychological Society, Boston, MA.

Greub, B., & Suhr, J.A. (February, 2005). The Validity of the Letter Memory Test as a Measure of Malingering: Robustness to Coaching The Validity of the Letter Memory Test as a Measure of Malingering: Robustness to Coaching. Annual meeting of the International Neuropsychological Society, St. Louis, MO.

Keller, L., Suhr, J.A., Hammers, D., & Tsanadis, J. (February, 2005). The Relation of Substance Use to Decision Making Ability in a Nonclinical Sample. Annual meeting of the International Neuropsychological Society, St. Louis, MO.

Tsanadis, J., Suhr, J.A., & Hammers, D. (February, 2005). Personality Dimensions Associated with Performance on the Iowa Gambling Task. Annual meeting of the International Neuropsychological Society, St. Louis, MO.

Suhr, J.A. (February, 2005). Perceived Threat of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and its Association with Personal AD Experience. Annual meeting of the International Neuropsychological Society, St. Louis, MO.

Keil, M. & Suhr, J.A. (February, 2005). Brief Neuropsychological Assessment in the Prediction of Everday Functional Abilities of Older Adults. Annual meeting of the International Neuropsychological Society, St. Louis, MO.

Hall, J.A., & Suhr, J.A. (March, 2005). Hydration and cognition in healthy young adults. Annual meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society.

Hammers, D.B., & Suhr, J.A. (November, 2005). Cognitive modeling analysis of performance on the Iowa Gambling Task in undergraduates reporting substance abuse. Annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, Washington, D.C.

Suhr, J. (February, 2004). Cognitive correlates of odor discrimination performance in older adults. Presented at the 32nd annual meeting of the International Neuropsychological Society, Baltimore, MD.

Suhr, J., Hall, J. Patterson, S., & Tong-Niinistro, R. (February, 2004). Hydration status and cognitive performance in healthy older adults. Presented at the 32nd annual meeting of the International Neuropsychological Society, Baltimore, MD.

Suhr, J., & Gunstad, J. (February, 2004). Do anxiety, effort, or depression explain the “diagnosis threat” effect? Presented at the 32nd annual meeting of the International Neuropsychological Society, Baltimore, MD.

Suhr, J. (February, 2004). The role of genetic and nongenetic experience with AD in perceived AD threat. Presented at the 32nd annual meeting of the International Neuropsychological Society, Baltimore, MD.

Suhr, J., & Hall, J. (November, 2004). Perceived threat of Alzheimer's disease and prior experience with AD: Interaction with age. Annual meeting of the National Academy of Neuropsychology, Seattle, WA.

Suhr, J., & Plein, E. (November, 2004). Olfactory acuity and neuropsychological test performance. Annual meeting of the National Academy of Neuropsychology, Seattle, WA.

Suhr, J., & Maynes, N. (November, 2004). The relation of depression to self-reported memory and neuropsychological test performance. Annual meeting of the National Academy of Neuropsychology, Seattle, WA.

Recent Grants:

• 2006 National Institutes of Health, “A coping intervention for HIV-Infectected Older Adults.” $617,683. Tim Heckman PI, J. Suhr Co-I.
• 2005 National Institutes of Health, “A coping intervention for HIV-infected older adults.” $631,988, Tim Heckman PI, J. Suhr Co-I.
• 2004 National Institutes of Health, "A coping intervention for HIV-infected older adults." $608,616, Tim Heckman PI, J. Suhr Co-I.
• 2003 Research challenge award, Ohio University. "Dehydration and Cognition in Older Adults". $6000 (with Steve Patterson, Ph.D.)
• 2002 Ohio University Baker Award, Perceived Alzheimer's Disease Threat: The Effect of Experience with Alzheimer's Disease.
• 1999 Ohio University Research Committee Grant, cognitive deficits in fibromyalgia.
• 1996 National Research Service Award from National Institute of Aging for research on behavioral management of Alzheimer's disease.
• 1995 National Research Service Award from National Institute of Aging for research on behavioral management of Alzheimer's disease.

Courses Taught:

Undergraduate:
Clinical Neuropsychology, Physiological Psychology, Abnormal Psychology

Graduate:
Neuropsychology, Psychoeducational Assessment, Intellectual Assessment, Traineeship Supervision (Assessment, Neuropsychological Assessment)

Affiliations:

• International Neuropsychological Society

Graduate Students:

• See Laboratory web page.