I was trained as a scientist-practitioner, which means using science to inform my clinical practice, and conducting scientific research that is informed by my experiences as a therapist. The focus of my research has been on developing and evaluating psychological interventions (particularly mindfulness and compassion-based therapies) for alleviating various types of distress, including anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). I currently work half-time at the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, developing and testing psychological interventions that can be used in diverse settings, from private practice offices to humanitarian settings. In collaboration with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy expert Russ Harris, we have developed a 5-session stress management intervention for adults and accompanying illustrated guide, which have been tested in humanitarian settings.  

Publications

Lakin, D. P., Cooper, S. E., Andersen, L., Brown, F. L., Augustinavicius, J. L., Carswell, K., Leku, M., Adaku, A., Au, T.,... & Tol, W. A. (2023). Psychological flexibility in South Sudanese female refugees in Uganda as a mechanism for change within a guided self-help intervention. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 91(1), 6. pdf

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Hall, J., Jordan, S., van Ommeren, M., Au, T., Sway, R. A., Crawford, J., ... & Carswell, K. (2022). Sustainable Technology for Adolescents and youth to Reduce Stress (STARS): a WHO transdiagnostic chatbot for distressed youth. World Psychiatry, 21(1), 156. pdf

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Park, A. L., Waldmann, T., Kösters, M., Tedeschi, F., Nosè, M., Ostuzzi, G., ... Au, T., Killian, R., & Barbui, C. (2022). Cost-effectiveness of the Self-Help Plus intervention for adult Syrian refugees hosted in Turkey. JAMA Network Open, 5(5), e2211489-e2211489.  pdf

 

Acarturk, C., Uygun, E., Ilkkursun, Z., Carswell, K., Tedeschi, F., Batu, M., Eskici, S., Kurt, G., Anttila, M., Au, T., ... & Barbui, C. (2022). Effectiveness of a WHO self-help psychological intervention for preventing mental disorders among Syrian refugees in Turkey: a randomized controlled trial. World Psychiatry, 21, 88-95.  pdf

 

Purgato, M., Carswell, K., Tedeschi, F., Acarturk, C., Anttila, M., Au, T., ... & Barbui, C. (2021). Effectiveness of Self-Help Plus in Preventing Mental Disorders in Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Western Europe: A Multinational Randomized Controlled Trial. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 90(6), 403-414.  pdf

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Tol, W., Leku, M. R., Lakin, D. P., Carswell, K., Augustinavicius, J., Adaku, A., Au, T. M.... & Ventevogel, P. (2020). Guided Self-Help to Reduce Psychological Distress in South Sudanese Female Refugees in Uganda: A Cluster Randomized Trial. Lancet Global Health, 8(2), e254-e263. pdf

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Purgato, M., Carswell, K., Acarturk, C., Au, T., Akbay, S., Anttila, M.,... van Ommeren, M. (2019). Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of Self Help Plus (SH+) for preventing mental disorders in refugees and asylum seekers in Europe and Turkey: study protocols for two randomized controlled trials. BMJ Open, 9, e030259.  pdf

 

Turrini, G., Purgato, M., Acarturk, C., Anttila, M., Au, T. M., Ballette, F.,... Barbui, C. (2019). Efficacy and acceptability of psychosocial interventions in asylum seekers and refugees: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 28, 376–388.  pdf

 

Au, T. M., Sauer-Zavala, S., King, M. W., Petrocchi, N., Barlow, D. H., & Litz, B. T. (2017). Compassion-based therapy for trauma-related shame and posttraumatic stress: Initial evaluation using a multiple baseline design. Behavior Therapy, 48, 207–221.  pdf   supplementals

 

Litz, B. T., Schorr, Y., Delaney, E., Au, T. M., Papa, A., Fox, A. B., Morris, S., Nickerson, A., Block, S., & Prigerson, H. G. (2014). A randomized controlled trial of an internet-based therapist-assisted indicated preventive intervention for prolonged grief disorder. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 61, 23–34.  pdf

 

Au, T. M., Dickstein, B. D., Comer, J. S., Salters-Pedneault, K., & Litz, B. T. (2013). Co-occurring posttraumatic stress and depression symptoms after sexual assault: A latent profile analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 149, 209-216.  pdf 

 

Nash, W. P., Marino Carper, T. L., Mills, M. A., Au, T. M., Goldsmith, A., Litz, B. T. (2013). Psychometric evaluation of the Moral Injury Events Scale. Military Medicine, 178, 646–652.  pdf

 

Au, T. M., Silva, C., Delaney, E. M., & Litz, B. T. (2012). Individual Approaches to Prevention and Early Intervention. In J.G. Beck & D.M. Sloan (Eds.), Oxford Handbook of Traumatic Stress Disorders (pp. 363–380). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.   link   pdf

 

Au, T. M., Dickstein, B. D, Marino-Carper, T. L., & Litz, B. T. (2012). Military roles in postdisaster mental health. In C.H. Kennedy & E.A. Zillmer (Eds.), Military Psychology: Clinical and Operational Applications (2nd ed.) (pp. 156–184). New York, NY: Guilford Press.  link   pdf

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Presentations

Au, T. M., & Litz, B. T. (2014, November). Evaluating a compassion-based therapy for trauma-related shame and posttraumatic stress. Presentation at the annual meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), Miami, FL.

 

Au, T. M., & Litz, B. T. (2014, June). Developing a compassion-based therapy for trauma-related shame and posttraumatic stress. Presentation within the symposium, PTSD: ACT, Mindful and Compassionate Approaches, conducted at the annual meeting of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS), Minneapolis, FL.

 

Au, T. M., Schorr, Y., Fox, A. B., Morris, S., Prigerson, H. G., & Litz, B. T. (2013, November). Negative cognitions mediate the effect of an internet-based intervention on symptoms of posttraumatic stress and prolonged grief. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), Philadelphia, PA.

 

Au, T. M., Dickstein, B. D, Steenkamp, M., Salters-Pedneault, K., & Litz, B. T. (2012, November). Awareness of emotions moderates the relationship between non-acceptance and PTSD symptoms after sexual assault. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT), National Harbor, MD.

 

Au, T. M., Dickstein, B. D, Steenkamp, M., Salters-Pedneault, K., & Litz, B. T. (2012, November). Emotion regulation deficits mediate the relationship between PTSD symptoms and functional impairment after sexual assault. Presentation at the annual meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), Los Angeles, CA.

 

Au, T. M., Dickstein, B. D, Rosebrock, L. E., Steenkamp, M., & Litz, B. T. (2012, August). PTSD and depression symptom trajectories overlap after sexual assault. Presentation at the annual meeting of the European Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies (E-ABCT), Geneva, Switzerland.

 

Delaney, E., Litz, B. T., Au, T. M., Prigerson, H., & Block, S. (2011, November). HEAL: An Internet-based self-management intervention for preventing prolonged grief. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), Baltimore, MD.

 

Nash, W. P., Marino Carper, T. L., Mills, M. A., Au, T. M., & Litz, B. T. (2011, November). Psychometric evaluation of the Transgressive Events Scale. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), Baltimore, MD.

 

Rosebrock, L., Au, T. M., Dickstein, B. D., Steenkamp, M., & Litz, B. T. (2011, March). Social reactions as a predictor of PTSD symptom trajectories following sexual assault. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychopathological Association, New York, NY.

 

Au, T. M., Silva, C., Dickstein, B. D., Papa, A., & Litz, B. T. (2010, November). Perception of stigma moderates the relationship between PTSD symptomatology and logistical barriers to care. Presentation at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT), San Francisco, CA.

 

Au, T. M., Illing, N., Fernald, R. D. (2003, November). Social regulation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor in the cichlid fish, Haplochromis burtoni. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience (SFN), New Orleans, LA.