I am a licensed psychologist and my research is focused on:

(a) understanding the association between late-life sleep disturbances and psychopathology, and the extent to which these problems predict cognitive and functional outcomes among elders;

and

(b) developing interventions to improve cognitive and functional outcomes in older adults.

Aging, sleep disturbances, anxiety, depression, cognitive decline, functional decline

International Junior Investigator Award, International College of Geriatric Psychoneuropharmacology, June 2009

JHSPH Faculty Innovation Fund Award, 2009-2010

National Institutes of Health Loan Repayment Program, July 2007-present

Completed National Institute of Mental Health Summer Research Institute in Geriatric Psychiatry, July 2005

Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy, Behavior Therapy and Aging Special Interest Group Poster Award, November 2004

HERF Fellowship, West Virginia University, 2002, 1999

Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, State University of New York at Stony Brook, June 1998

Spira, A. P., Friedman, L., Beaudreau, S. A., Ancoli-Israel, S., Hernandez, B., Sheikh, J., & Yesavage, J. (in press). Sleep and physical functioning in family caregivers of older adults with memory impairment. International Psychogeriatrics .

Edwards, E. R., Spira, A. P., Barnes, D. E., Yaffe, K. (2009). Neuropsychiatric symptoms in mild cognitive impairment: Differences by subtype and progression to dementia. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 24(7):716-22.

Kezirian, E. J., Harrison, S. L., Redline, S., Ancoli-Israel, S., Ensrud, K., Goldberg, A. N., Claman, D. M., Spira, A. P., & Stone, K. (2009). Behavioral correlates of sleep-disordered breathing in older men. Sleep, 32(2), 253-61.

Spira, A. P., Stone, K., Ancoli-Israel, S., Beaudreau, S. A., & Yaffe, K. (2009). Anxiety symptoms and objectively measured sleep quality in older women. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 17(2), 136-43.

Beaudreau, S. A., Spira, A. P., Gray, H. L., Depp, C. A., Long, J., Rothkopf, M., & Gallagher-Thompson, D. (2008). The relationship between objectively measured sleep disturbance and dementia family caregiver distress and burden. Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology, 21(3), 159-65.

Palmer, B. W., Cassidy, E. L., Dunn, L. B., Spira, A. P., & Sheikh, J. I. (2008). Simple yet effective:  Questioning research participants during initial presentation of consent forms facilitates the consent process. IRB: Ethics & Human Research, March-April, 8-12.

Spira, A. P., Friedman, L., Aulakh, J. S., Lee, T., Sheikh, J. I., & Yesavage, J. A. (2008). Sleep, subclinical anxiety symptoms, and daytime dysfunction in older adults with primary insomnia. Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology, 21, 56-60.

Spira, A. P., Blackwell, T., Stone, K. L, Redline, S., Cauley, J. A., Ancoli-Israel, S., & Yaffe, K. (2008). Sleep-disordered breathing and cognition in community-dwelling older women. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 56, 45-50.

Kuppuswamy, M., Davies, H. D., Spira, A. P., Zeiss, A. M., & Tinklenberg, J. R. (2007). Sexuality and intimacy between individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and their spouses: A description of caregivers’ experiences. Clinical Gerontologist,30, 75-81.

Spira, A. P., Beaudreau, S. A., Jimenez, D., Kierod, K., Cusing, M., Gray, H. L., & Gallagher-Thompson, D. (2007). Experiential avoidance, acceptance, and depression in dementia family caregivers. Clinical Gerontologist, 30, 55-64.

Spira, A. P., & Edelstein, B. A. (2007). Operant conditioning in older adults with Alzheimer's disease. The Psychological Record, 57, 409-427.

Spira, A. P., & Edelstein, B. A. (2006). Behavioral interventions for agitation in older adults with dementia: An evaluative review. International Psychogeriatrics, 18, 195-225.

Thompson, L. W., Spira, A. P., Depp, C. A., McGee, J., & Gallagher-Thompson, D. (2006). The geriatric caregiver. In G. Maletta, & M. E. Agronin (Eds.), Principles and practice of geriatric psychiatry (pp. 37-48). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.

Edelstein, B.A., & Spira, A. P. (2005). Behavioral consultation. In M. Hersen & J. Rosqvist (Eds.). Encyclopedia of behavior modification and cognitive behavior therapy; Volume I: Adult clinical applications. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Spira, A. P., Friedman, L., Flint, A., & Sheikh, J. I. (2005). Interaction of sleep disturbances and anxiety in later life: Perspectives and recommendations for future research. Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology, 18, 109-115.

Spira, A. P., Koven, L. P., & Norris, M. P. (2005). Long-term care: New challenges and opportunities for psychologists. The Clinical Psychologist, 58, 26-29.

Spira, A. P., Koven, L. P., & Edelstein, B. A. (2004). Using a differential reinforcement of incompatible behavior (DRI) schedule to reduce maladaptive behaviors in a nursing home resident. Clinical Case Studies, 3, 165-170.

Spira, A. P., Zvolensky, M. J., Eifert, G. H., & Feldner, M. T. (2004). Avoidance-oriented coping as a predictor of anxiety-based physical stress: A test using biological challenge. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 18, 309-323.

Edelstein, B. A., Koven, L. P., Spira, A. P., & Shreve-Neiger, A. K. (2003). Diagnostic interviewing: Older adults. In M. Hersen & S. Turner (Eds.) Diagnostic interviewing (3rd ed., pp. 433-454). New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers.

Edelstein, B. A., Shreve-Neiger, A. K., Spira, A. P., & Koven, L. P. (2003). Concerns with older adults. In L. Cohen, D. McChargue, & F. Collins (Eds.), The health psychology handbook (pp. 485-501). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Edelstein, B. A., Spira, A. P., & Koven, L. P. (2003). Management of problem behaviors associated with dementia. Psicologia Conductual, 11, 319-332.

Feldner, M. T., Zvolensky, M. J., Eifert, G. H., & Spira, A. P. (2003). Emotional avoidance: An experimental test of individual differences and response suppression using biological challenge. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 41, 403-411.

Zvolensky, M. J., Heffner, M., Eifert, G. H., Spira, A. P., Feldner, M. T., & Brown, R. A. (2001). Incremental validity of perceived control dimensions in the differential prediction of interpretive biases for threat. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 23, 75-83.