MIRECC / CoE

Biography

Biography: 

Dr. Kyle Possemato received her PhD in Clinical Health Psychology from Drexel University where she developed an early interest in PTSD, initially studying its effects in transplant patients. Kyle completed her pre-doctoral psychology internship in the Department of Psychiatry at the State University of New York Upstate Medical University in Syracuse. Upon completion of her internship, Dr. Possemato joined the
VA's Center for Integrated Healthcare as a post-doctoral fellow. Two years later, she joined the  Center as a clinical research investigator where she has focused her research on PTSD in the primary care setting.  Dr. Possemato also holds faculty appointments in the Department of Psychology, Syracuse University and the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, the State University of New York, Upstate Medical University.

Research Interests: 

Dr. Possemato’s research focuses on developing, testing and implementing interventions for trauma, PTSD, and substance use disorders with an emphasis on interventions that can be delivered in non-traditional ways in order to increase patient engagement. Examples include brief interventions delivered in the primary care setting, technology-based (e.g., web and smart phone) interventions, and services delivered by peer-support specialists. Much of Dr. Possemato’s research focuses on testing and implementing cognitive-behavioral and mindfulness interventions to increase engagement in care and reduce PTSD symptoms and alcohol use among Veterans.

Publications

Recent Publications:

(past five years, italics indicate a mentee)

Possemato, K., Wu, J., Greene, C., MacQueen, R., Blonigen, D., Wade, M., Owen, J., Keane, T.M., Brief, D.J., Lindley, S., Prins, A., Mackintosh, M., O’Brien-Mazza, D., Carlson E., (in press). Online Problem-Solving Training with and without Peer Support in Veterans with Unmet Mental Health Needs: A Pilot Study of Feasibility, User Acceptability and Participant Engagement. Journal of Medical Internet Research

Possemato, K., Steiger, S., Sindoni, M., Moe, R., Higham, J., Tubbs, C. (in press). A Clinician/ Researcher Partnership to Understand Patterns and Predictors of Trauma-Focused Psychotherapy and Non-Trauma-Focused Psychotherapy Use among Veterans with PTSD. Psychological Services.

Possemato, K., Silander, N., Bellete, N., Emery, J.B., De Stefano, L., Pigeon, W., (in press). Characteristics of Posttraumatic Nightmares and Their Relationship to PTSD Severity Among Combat Veterans with PTSD and Hazardous Alcohol Use. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease.

Poleshuck, E., Possemato, K., Johnson, E., Cohen, A., Fogarty, C., Funderburk, J (in press). Leveraging Integrated Primary Care to Address Patients’ and Families’ Unmet Social Needs: Aligning Practice with National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine Recommendations. Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine.

Ramon, A., Possemato, K., Bergen-Cico, D., (2021). Relationship of Rumination and Self-Compassion to Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms among Veterans. Military Psychology. doi: 10.1080/08995605.2021.1976040

Buckheit, K.A., Nolan, J., Possemato, K., Maisto, S, Rosenblum, A, Acosta, M, Marsch, L.A. (in press). Insomnia Predicts Treatment Engagement and Symptom Change: A Secondary Analysis of a Web-based CBT Intervention for Veterans with PTSD Symptoms and Hazardous Alcohol Use. Translational Behavioral Medicine.

Johnson, E.M., Possemato, K., Martens, B.K., Hampton, B., Wade, M., Chinman, M., & Maisto, S.A. (In Press). Goal Attainment Among Veterans with PTSD Enrolled in Peer-Delivered Whole Health Coaching: A Multiple Baseline Design Trial. Coaching: An International Journal of Theory, Research & Practice.

Connolly, S.L., Kuhn, E., Possemato, K., Torous, J. (2021). Digital clinics and mobile technology implementation for mental health care. Current Psychiatry Reports, 23, 38.

Johnson, E. M., Hampton, B., Barrie, K., & Possemato, K. (2021). Expanding Access to Psychosocial Research Studies During the COVID-19 Pandemic Through Virtual Modalities. Families, Systems, and Health. Online ahead of print. doi: 10.1037/fsh0000599.

Montena, A. L., Possemato, K., Kuhn, E., Carlson, E. B., McGovern, M., Smith, J., & Blonigen, D. (2021). Barriers and facilitators to peer-supported implementation of mental health mobile applications with veterans in primary care. Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science. doi: 10.1007/s41347-021-00198-3

Johnson, E.M., Possemato, K., Khan, S., Chinman, M., Maisto, S.A. (2021). Engagement, Experience and Satisfaction with Peer-Delivered Whole Health Coaching for Veterans with PTSD: A Mixed Methods Process Evaluation. Psychological Services. Online ahead of print doi: 10.1037/ser0000529.

Johnson, E.M., & Possemato, K. (2019). Defining the things we can change to improve access to mental health care. Families, Systems & Health, 37(3), 195- 205 doi: 10.1037/fsh0000435.

Johnson, E.M. & Possemato, K. (2019). Correlates & predictors of mental healthcare utilization for veterans with PTSD: A systematic review. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 8:851-860. doi: 10.1037/tra0000461

Beehler, G. P., Funderburk, J. S., King, P. R., Possemato, K., Maddoux, J. A., Goldstein, W. R., & Wade, M. (2020). Validation of an expanded measure of integrated care provider fidelity: PPAQ-2. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, 27, 158-172.

Johnson, E.M. & Possemato, K. (2019). Problem recognition and treatment beliefs relate to mental health utilization among veteran primary care patients. Psychological Services, 18(1):11-22. doi: 10.1037/ser0000341.

Miller, K.E., Kuhn, E., Yu, J., Owen, J., Jaworski, B., Taylor, K., Blonigen, D.M., & Possemato, K. (2019). Use and perceptions of mobile apps for patients among VA primary care mental health providers: A brief report. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 50(3), 204-209 doi:10.1037/pro0000229

Possemato, K., Johnson, E. M., Emery, J. B., Wade, M., Acosta, M. C., Marsch, L. A., Rosenblum, A., Maisto, S. A. (2019). A Pilot Study Comparing Peer-Supported Web-based CBT to Self-Managed Web CBT for Primary Care Veterans with PTSD and Hazardous Alcohol Use. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 42 (3): 305-313. doi: 10.1037/prj0000334

Possemato, K., Shepardson, R.L., Funderburk, J.S. (2018). The Role of Integrated Primary Care in Increasing Access to Effective Psychotherapies in Veterans Health Administration FOCUS: The Journal of Lifelong Learning in Psychiatry, 16:384–392. doi: 10.1176/appi.focus.20180024

Possemato, K., Wray, L. O., Johnson, E.M., Webster, B., & Beehler, G. (2018) Facilitators and Barriers to Seeking Mental Health Care among Primary Care Veterans with PTSD. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 31, 742–752. doi: 10.1002/jts.22327

Possemato, K., Johnson, E.M., Beehler, G. P., Shepardson, R. L., King, P., Vair, C. L., Funderburk, J. S., Maisto, S. A., Wray, L. O. (2018). Patient Outcomes Associated with Primary Care Behavioral Health Services: A Systematic Review. General Hospital Psychiatry, 53:1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2018.04.002

Moskal, D., Maisto, S. A., Possemato, K., Lynch, K. G., & Oslin, D. W. (2018). Testing mediators of reduced drinking for Veterans in Alcohol Care Management. Military Medicine, 183 (9-10), e594–e602, doi: 10.1093/milmed/usy024

Rotenberg, J. R., Leong, S. H., Maisto, S. A., McKay, J. R., Possemato, K., Ingram, E., Oslin, D. W. (2018), Post-intervention Durability of Alcohol Care Management: 1-Year Follow-up of a Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 33(10), 1626–8, doi: 10.1007/s11606-018-4567-7

Shepardson, R. L., Johnson, E. M., Possemato, K., Arigo, D., & Funderburk, J. S. (2019). Barriers and facilitators to implementation of peer support in Veterans Health Administration primary care-mental health integration settings. Psychological Services. 16(3):433-444. doi: 10.1037/ser0000242.

Funderburk, J.S., Shepardson, R.L., Wray, J., Acker, J., Beehler, G.P., Possemato, K., Wray, L.O., & Maisto, S.A. (2018). Behavioral medicine interventions for adult primary care settings: A review. Families, Systems, and Health, 36(3), 368-399. doi: 10.1037/fsh0000333

Possemato, K., Johnson, E., Wray, L.O., Webster, B., & Stecker, T. (2018). The implementation and testing of a referral management system to address barriers to treatment seeking among primary care veterans with PTSD. Psychological Services. 15(4):457-469. doi: 0.1037/ser0000150

Lee, J., Possemato, K., Ouimette, P. (2017). Longitudinal changes in combat-related PTSD among OEF/OIF/OND veterans with hazardous alcohol use: The role of avoidance coping. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 205, 805-808. doi: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000000713

Beehler, G. P., Lilienthal, K. R., Possemato, K., Johnson, E. M., King, P. R., Shepardson, R. L., Vair, C. L., Reyner, J., Funderburk, J. S., Maisto, S. A., & Wray, L. O. (2017). Narrative review of provider behavior in Primary Care Behavioral Health: How process data can inform quality improvement. Families, Systems, and Health, 35(3), 257-270. doi: 10.1037/fsh0000263

Possemato, K., Maisto, S.A., Wade, M., Barrie, K., Johnson, E.M. & Ouimette, P.C. (2017). Natural course of co-occurring PTSD and alcohol use disorder among recent combat veterans. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 30(3), 279-287. doi:10.1002/jts.22192

Fivecoat, H., Cos, T.A., & Possemato, K. (2017). Special ethical considerations for behavioral health consultants in the primary care setting. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 48(5), 335-342. doi: 10.1037/pro0000133

Johnson, E.M., Possemato, K., Barrie, K.A., Webster, B., Wade, M., & Stecker, T. (2017). Veterans’ thoughts about PTSD treatment and subsequent treatment utilization. International Journal of Cognitive Therapy, 10, 138-160.

Acosta M.C., Possemato, K., Maisto, S.A., Marsch, L.A., Barrie, K., Lantinga, L., Fong, X. Haiyi, X, Rosenblum, R. (2017). Web-delivered CBT reduces drinking in OEF-OIF veterans in primary care with symptomatic substance use and PTSD. Behavior Therapy, 48, 262-276. doi: 10.1016/j.beth.2016.09.001.

Possemato, K., Kuhn, E., Johnson, E., Hoffman, J., Brooks, E. (2017). Development and refinement of a clinician intervention to facilitate primary care patient use of the PTSD Coach app. Translational Behavioral Medicine, 7, 116-126. doi: 10.1007/s13142-016-0393-9

Johnson, E.M., Barrie, K.A., Possemato, K., Wade, M., Eaker, A., & Ouimette, P.C. (2016). Predictors of mental healthcare utilization in veterans with PTSD symptoms and hazardous drinking. Military Medicine, 181, 1200-1209. doi: 10.7205/MILMED-D-15-00495

Lilienthal, K.R., Possemato, K., Funderburk, J., Wade, M., Eaker, A., & Beehler, G. P. (2017). Predisposing characteristics, enabling factors, and need as predictors of integrated behavioral health utilization. Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research, 44(2):263-273. doi:10.1007/s11414-016-9496-9

Presentations

Symposiums and Other Peer-Reviewed Presentations:

(past five years)

Rauch, S.A.M. et al, Possemato, K. (2021, November). Predictors of Response to Prolonged Exposure for Primary Care in VA Panel Presentation at the 2019 Annual Meeting for the International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies, Boston, MA.

Kehle-Forbes, S., Galovski, G., Possemato, K., Polusny M. (2020, November). Empowering Veterans to Step Down Their Level of Mental Health Care Following Completion of Trauma-Focused Therapy. Paper at the annual meeting of the Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Philadelphia, PA.

Johnson, E.M., Possemato, K., Chinman, M., Maisto, S.A., Martens, B. (2020, November). Goal Setting and Goal Attainment in a Pilot Trial of Peer-Delivered Whole Health Coaching: A Novel Approach to Engage Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. In Robyn Shepardson (chair) Expanding access to CBT through primary care: Pilot data on brief interventions for mental and behavioral health concerns. Symposium at the annual meeting of the Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Philadelphia, PA.

Possemato, K., Kuhn, E., Beehler, G., Barrie, K., Puran, D. (2020, November). Acceptability of Clinician-Supported PTSD Coach among VA Primary Care Patients. In Robyn Shepardson (chair) Expanding access to CBT through primary care: Pilot data on brief interventions for mental and behavioral health concerns. Symposium at the annual meeting of the Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Philadelphia, PA

Possemato, K., MacQueen, S., Carlson, E., Johnson, E., Harris, I, (2019, November). The Power of Peer Relationships to Foster Trauma Recovery and Mental Health. Panel Presentation at the 2019 Annual Meeting for the International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies, Boston, MA.

Possemato, K., Johnson, E.M., Beehler, G. P., Shepardson, R. L (2018, October). How do Patients Benefit from Primary Care Behavioral Health Services: A Systematic Review. Oral presentation presented at the Collaborative Family Healthcare Association Annual Meeting.

Possemato, K., Maisto, S. A., Acosta, M., Marsch, M., Rosenblum, A. (2017, November)Predictors of treatment gain following use of a self-managed, web-based CBT program for veterans with PTSD and hazardous alcohol use. Symposium presented at the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA.

Johnson, E.M., Wray, L.O., Webster, B., Possemato, K., Shepardson, R.L., Pomerantz, A. (October, 2017). Real Life Lessons from Implementation of a New Peer Support Program in Primary Care. Oral Presentation at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Collaborative Family Healthcare Association, Houston, TX.

Shepardson, R. L., Johnson, E. M., Funderburk, J. S., Arigo, D., & Possemato, K. (2017, October). Peer support in integrated primary care: Provider and patient feedback on potential peer roles. Oral Presentation at the 19th Annual Conference of the Collaborative Family Healthcare Association, Houston, TX.

Possemato, K., Johnson, E.M., Emery, J.B., Maisto., S.A. (2017, March). Combining peer support with a web-based treatment to increase engagement in primary care- mental health services. Symposium presented at the 2017 Society of Behavioral Medicine Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA.

PEER-REVIEWED POSTER PRESENTATIONS

Possemato, K., Mastroleo, N., King, P., Balderrama-Durban, C., Castro, I. E., Rauch, A. (November, 2019). A Delphi Study to Integrate Prolonged Exposure for Primary Care and Motivational Enhancement Therapy for Heavy Alcohol Use. Poster presented at the 2019 Annual Meeting for the International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies, Boston, MA.

Possemato, K., Barrie, K., & Wade, M. (2019, June). Ecological Momentary Assessment of PTSD Symptoms and Smoking in Combat Veterans with Risky Drinking. Poster Society for Ambulatory Assessment, Syracuse, NY.

Ramon, A., Rochester, N. K., Possemato, K., & Weber, J. L. (2019, March). Role of self-compassion in depression, quality of life, and medical illness in military veterans. Presentation at the annual Society of Behavioral Medicine Meeting, Washington, D C.

Shepardson, R. L., Johnson, E., Possemato, K., Arigo, D., & Funderburk, J. S. (2018, October). Patient and provider attitudes and receptiveness toward peer support in integrated primary care. Poster presented at the 20th Annual Conference of the Collaborative Family Healthcare Association, Rochester, NY.

McKenzie, S., Weber, J., Bergen-Cico, D., Possemato, K. (October, 2018). Using provider and peer feedback to adapt a brief mindfulness program for veterans. Poster presented the Collaborative Family Healthcare Association Annual Meeting.

Grants

Co-Investigator, Site PI: Stand Down-Think Before You Drink: An RCT of a Mobile App for Hazardous Drinking with Peer Phone Support Blonigen (PI), HSR&D IIR Awarded: January 2022

Co-Investigator: Using mindfulness-based cognitive therapy to manage pain and mitigate suicide risk in Veterans, Ashfiroun (PI), NIH (NCCIH) R34. Awarded January 2022

Co-Investigator: Testing Adaptive Interventions to Improve PTSD Treatment Outcomes in Community Health Centers, Sripada (PI), NIH (NIMH) R01, Awarded December 2021

Co-Investigator: Identifying Modifiable Factors that Affect Veterans at risk due to Social Determinants of Health and Psychological Distress Access to Care Within Integrated Primary Care Settings, Funderburk (PI), HSRD IIR, Awarded January 2022

Co-Investigator: Enhancing Rural Mental Health Access through High-Efficiency Provider Training: Adapting Problem-Solving Training in Primary Care (PST-PC), Dollar (PI), VA Office of Rural Health Implementation Project, Awarded October 2021.

Co-Investigator: Use of a Peer Intervention to Improve Access Among Rural Women Veterans with Psychological Distress and Unmet Social Needs, Poleshuck (PI), VA Office of Rural Health Implementation Project, Awarded October 2021.

Principal Investigator: Mechanisms of Behavior Change in an Integrated Alcohol and PTSD Intervention with Veterans in Primary Care HSRD SWIFT-IVI. Awarded October 2021. Total Costs: $50,000

Co-Investigator: Overcoming Access Barriers for PTSD Treatment in Primary Care: Demonstration and Evaluation of Prolonged Exposure for Primary Care (PE-PC) in Rural PC, Rauch (PI), VA Office of Rural Health Implementation Project, Awarded October 2020.

Multiple-Principal Investigator: Implementing CBT for Treatment Seeking to Prevent Suicide in Rural Veterans. Office of Rural Health Implementation Project. (MultiPI with Tracy Stecker). Awarded: October 2020. Total Costs: $750,000

Principal Investigator: ACT Workshops: A Novel Delivery Modality to Increase Access to Mental Health Care for Rural Veterans. VA HSR&D Access Core Grant. Awarded: January 2021. Total Costs: $50,000

Co-Investigator: Implementation of Mobile Health for Veterans in Primary Care: Using Peers to Enhance Access to Mental Health Care. HSR&D Pilot, Blonigen (PI) Awarded: October 2019.

Multiple-Principal Investigator: An Integrated Brief Alcohol and PTSD Intervention for Veterans in Primary Care. 1R34AA026745-01 NIH, National Institute for Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse (NIAAA) (Multi-PI with Nadine Mastroleo). Awarded 8/2018. Total Costs: $450,000

Principal Investigator: Primary Care Based Mindfulness Training for Veterans with PTSD R34AT009678-01, NIH, National Center for Complementary & Integrative Health. Awarded: 1/2018. Total Costs: $450,000

Primary Mentor: Peer-Delivered Whole Health Coaching to Improve Recovery in Veterans with PTSD. 1 IK1 RX002476-01A2 Department of Veterans Affairs RR&D, Johnson (PI) Awarded: 4/2018.

Co-Investigator: Pilot Test of a Self-Management Program for Completers of Trauma-Focused Therapy. 1I21 RX002525-01A1, Department of Veterans Affairs RR&D SPiRE Kehle-Forbes (PI). Awarded: 7/2017.

Multi-Principal Investigator: Clinician Supported PTSD Coach in Primary Care. VA HSRD&D IIR: (Multi-PI with Eric Kuhn). Total Costs: 1.2 million. Awarded: 10/15

Principal Investigator: Peer-Supported Web-based Cognitive Behavior Therapy for OEF/OIF Veterans with PTSD and Substance Misuse. CIH Pilot Research Grant. Total Costs $48,000. Awarded 6/15.

Co-Investigator: Exploring Stakeholder Ideas for Incorporating Peer Support into PC-MHI (PI: Robyn Shepardson). Center for Integrated Healthcare Pilot Research Grant. Total Costs: $10,000, Awarded 5/16.

Co-Investigator: Measuring Provider Fidelity to Core Functions of PC-MHI, CIH Core Research Grant (PI: Greg Beehler). Total Costs: $148,964. Awarded 9/15.

Co-Investigator: PC-MHI Clinical Outcomes: Preliminary Study (PI: Jennifer Funderburk). Center for Integrated Healthcare Pilot Research Grant. Total Costs: $84,206, Awarded 1/15.

Co-Investigator/ Mentor: Evaluation of Barriers and Facilitators to Mental Health Treatment Utilization Among Primary Care Veterans. CIH Pilot Research Grant. Total Costs $26,094.50. Awarded 8/15.

Principal Investigator: Increasing Engagement in Evidence-Based PTSD Therapy for Primary Care Veterans. RRP 13-204. Health Services Research and Development QUERI Rapid Response Project. Total Costs: $100,000. Awarded 7/12.

Principal Investigator: (Multi PI with Wil Pigeon, Ph.D.) Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction for Primary Care Veterans with PTSD Symptoms. VA Central Office Clinical Demonstration Funds. Total Costs: $118,144. Awarded 7/11.

Co-Investigator: Web-based CBT for Substance Misusing and PTSD Symptomatic OEF/OIF Veterans. NIAAA R01AA20181. (PIs: Andrew Rosenblum & Stephen Maisto) Total Costs: $499,975. Awarded 7/10.

Mentorship

Why do I mentor? “My experience of receiving and offering mentorship has been greatly rewarding, and one that I view as critical to professional development as a scientist-practitioner. My hope is that the individuals I mentor will continue growing as professionals, advancing their own lines of work to improve Veterans’

How do I go about mentoring? “My mentoring style is highly flexibly based on the needs and goals of the mentee. Early on in a mentoring relationship, I am happy to provide opportunities for new learning opportunities and more intensive feedback and supervision. Ultimately, I want to see all my mentees become increasingly more independent and enable them to develop their own research path. As a mentor, I tend to be highly available for both scheduled meetings and ad-hoc consultation. I strive to form a highly collaborative and supportive relationship with mentees that focuses on a thoughtful plan to systematically work toward the mentee’s career development goals.”

Areas I tend to Emphasize within Mentorship:

• Helping mentees to develop their own research interests
• Professional writing skills for manuscripts and grant applications
• Hands-on experience with the day-to-day conduct of clinical research in medical settings
• Development of professional milestones and long-term goals
• Participation in professional conferences and seminars
• Successful management of research staff
• Building a professional network of colleagues
• Balancing work and life commitments

Accomplishments of Previous Students

• Awarded pilot grants as well as large external grant funding
• Increased collaboration and professional network
• APublications and presentations

Accepting New Mentees

As part of the Post-Doctoral Fellowship Program, I am currently accepting new mentees.