JESSICA MAPLES KELLER
Research overview
Dr. Maples Keller's research focuses on how we can understand and improve evidence-based psychotherapy, especially in treatment resistant populations. She is interested in psychedelic therapy, such as MDMA and psilocybin, including mechanisms of treatment and cultural factors. Her program of research focuses on individual differences that confer risk for posttraumatic stress disorder, including understanding women's significantly increased risk, and the use of translational models to inform trauma interventions. She is also interested in assessment and conceptualization of personality and psychopathology, and the associations between personality and maladaptive outcomes. Dr. Maples Keller is a licensed clinical psychologist and practicing clinician.
RESEARCH
PERCEPTIONS OF PSYCHEDELIC THERAPY IN UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS
People of color in the United States experience systemic racism and oppression, as well as barriers to receiving and engaging in psychiatric treatment. Psychedelic treatments show strong promise, and people of color are underrepresented in psychedelic trials. Dr. Maples Keller and Dr. Sierra Carter (https://www.drsierracarter.com/)Â are conducting research investigating perceptions of psychedelic therapy in the Black/African American community in order to inform culturally informed modifications and increase access to these treatments.
ESTRADIOL AND PTSD TREATMENT RESPONSE
Women demonstrate twice the prevalence of PTSD compared to men and experience a more chronic course. Fluctuations of estrogens across the menstrual cycle may influence PTSD risk. This research will investigate estradiol's impact on fear extinction recall and treatment response in exposure therapy for PTSD.
PERSONALITY AND PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
General personality trait models can inform conceptualization of pathology as well as risk for psychopathology. This program of research investigates dimensional traits as the building blocks of personality disorders, and how general and pathological trait models are associated with maladaptive outcomes and psychopathology. In particular, Dr. Maples Keller is interested how personality predicts prospective PTSD risk.