Deborah J. Walder

Education:

Research Postdoctoral Fellowship, Harvard Medical School - 2005 (Behavioral Neuroscience in Psychiatry)

Clinical Postdoctoral Fellowship, Harvard Medical School - 2003 (Neuropsychology)

Ph.D., Emory University - 2002 (Psychology, Clinical)

M.A., Emory University - 1999 (Psychology, Clinical)

B.A., University of Michigan - 1995 (Psychology)

Areas of Expertise:

Walder's research program focuses on neurodevelopment of mental health disorders (e.g., schizophrenia spectrum, depression). She studies biomarkers of risk (using neurohormone assay, genetics, neuropsychological testing, brain imaging techniques) and environmental factors (stress, obstetric complications) among healthy, high-risk youth and young adults. This includes use of prospective methods to better understand the early trajectory of illness, with an eye toward preventive intervention.

Books and Publications

Carrión, R.E., Walder, D.J., Auther, A.M., McLaughlin, D., Zyla, H.O., Adelsheim, S., Calkins, R., Carter, C.S., McFarland, B., Melton, R., Niendam, T., Ragland, J.D., Sale, T.G., Taylor, S.F., McFarlane, W.R., Cornblatt, B.A. (2018). From the psychosis prodrome to the first-episode of psychosis: No evidence of a cognitive decline. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 96:231-238. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2018

Statucka, M., Walder, D.J. (2017). Facial affect recognition and social functioning among individuals with varying degrees of schizotypy. Psychiatry Research, 256:180-187. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2017

Bjorkenstam, E., Dalman, C., Vinnerljung, B., Weitoft, G.R., Walder, D.J., & Burstrom, B. (2016). Childhood household dysfunction, school performance and psychiatric care utilization in young adults: a register study of 96,399 individuals in Stockholm County. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 70(5):473-80. doi: 10.1136/jech-2015-206329.
(Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2016

Yaffe, B. & Walder D.J. (2016). Schizotypy and specificity of negative emotions on an emotional stroop paradigm in a non-clinical sample. Psychiatry Research, 239:291-300. Epub ahead of print.
doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2016.02.041 (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2016


Reigada, L.C., Polokowski, A.R., Walder, D.J., Szigethy, E.M., Benkov, K.J., Bruzzese, J-M, & Masia Warner, C. (2015). Treatment for Comorbid Pediatric Gastrointestinal and Anxiety Disorders: A Pilot Study of a Flexible Health Sensitive Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Program. Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2015

Walder, D.J., Yaffe, B., & Ehrlich, Y. (2015). Sexual Dimorphisms in Psychosis Risk: A Neurodevelopmental Perspective. In R. Shansky and John E. Johnson, Jr. (Editors), Sex Differences in the Central Nervous System. (Books and Publications: Book Chapter) 2015

Walder, D.J., D.P. Laplante, A. Sousa-Pires, F. Veru, A. Brunet and S. King. "Prenatal Maternal Stress Predicts Subclinical Autism Traits in 6½-year-old Children: Project Ice Storm." Psychiatry Research. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2014

Walder, D.J., M. Statucka, M. Daly and B. Yaffe. "Psychotic Disorders." Oxford Bibliographies in Psychology. Ed. Dana S. Dunn. New York: Oxford University Press. (Books and Publications: Article (Other)) 2014

Walder, D.J., S.V. Faraone, S.J. Glatt, M.T. Tsuang and L.J. Seidman. "Genetic Liability, Prenatal Health, Stress and Family Environment: Risk Factors in the Harvard Adolescent Family High Risk for Schizophrenia Study." Schizophrenia Research. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2014

Kozbelt, A., S.B. Kaufman, D.J. Walder, L. Ospina and J. Kim. "Evolutionary Perspectives on the Creativity-psychosis Association." Creativity and Mental Illness. Ed. J.C. Kaufman. New York: Cambridge University Press. In press. (Books and Publications: Forthcoming Publications) 2013

Reigada, L.C., K.J. Benkov, J.-M. Bruzzese, C. Hoogendoorn, E. Szigethy, A. Briggie, D.J. Walder and C.M. Warner. "Integrating Illness Concerns Into Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Children and Adolescents With Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Co-occurring Anxiety." Journal for Specialists in Pediatric Nursing 18.2: 133-43. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2013

Statucka, M. and D.J. Walder. "Efficacy of Social Cognition Remediation Targeting Facial affect Recognition in Schizophrenia: A Systematic Review With Consideration of High-risk Samples and Sex Differences." Psychiatry Research. DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2012.12.005. In press. (Books and Publications: Forthcoming Publications) 2013

Walder, D.J., C.W. Holtzman, J. Addington, K. Cadenhead, M. Tsuang, B. Cornblatt, T.D. Cannon, T. McGlashan, S.W. Woods, D.O. Perkins, L.J. Seidman, R. Heinssen and E.F. Walker. "Sexual Dimorphisms and Prediction of Conversion in the NAPLS Psychosis Prodrome." Schizophrenia Research 144: 43-50. DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2012.11.039. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2013

Daly, M.P., S. Afroz and D.J. Walder. "Schizotypal Traits and Neurocognitive Functioning Among Nonclinical Young Adults." Psychiatry Research. 200.2-3: 635-640. DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2012.06.016. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2012

Golembo-Smith, S., D.J. Walder, M. Daly, V.A. Mittal, E. Kline, G. Reeves and J. Schiffman. "The Presentation of Dermatoglyphic Abnormalities in Schizophrenia: A meta-analytic review." Schizophrenia Research 142.1-3:1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2012.10.002. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2012

Walder, D.J. and B. Yaffe. "Sex Differences in Adolescent Depression: Basic science, conceptual models, public/societal costs and implications for preventive intervention." A review of Depression in Adolescent Girls: Science and prevention. Eds. Timothy J. Strauman, Philip R. Costanzo and Judy Garber. New York: The Guilford Press, 2011. In press. (Books and Publications: Forthcoming Publications) 2012

Walder, D.J., L. Ospina, M. Daly, M. Statucka and E. Raparia. "Early Neurodevelopment and Psychosis Risk: Role of neurohormones and biological sex in modulating genetic, prenatal and sensory processing factors in brain development." Psychosis: Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment. Ed. X. Hadjicharalambous. Nova Science. In press. (Books and Publications: Forthcoming Publications) 2012

Walder, D.J., M. Statucka, M.P. Daly, K. Axen and M. Haber. "Biological Sex and Menstrual Cycle Phase Modulation of Cortisol Levels and Psychiatric Symptoms in a Non-Clinical Sample of Young Adults." Psychiatry Research 197.3: 314-21. PMID: 22364929. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2012

"The Role of Cognitive Grief Therapy in the Bereavement Process." A review of Cognitive Grief Therapy: Constructing a Rational Meaning to Life Following Loss, by Ruth Malkinson. Death Studies 34.3. (Books and Publications: Book Review) 2010

Mittal, V.A., E.F. Walker, C.E. Bearden, D.J. Walder, H. Trottman, M. Daley, A. Simone and T. Cannon. "Markers of Basal Ganglia Dysfunction and Conversion to Psychosis: Neurocognitive Deficits and Dyskinesias in the Prodromal Period." Biological Psychiatry 68: 93-99. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2010

Walder, D.J., H.D. Trotman, J.F. Cubells, J. Brasfield, Y. Tang and E.F. Walker. "Catechol-O-Methyltransferase (COMT) Modulation of Cortisol Secretion in Psychiatrically At-risk and Healthy Adolescents." Psychiatric Genetics 20.4: 166-70. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2010

"Depression Among Children and Adolescents: A Timely Multipurpose Guide to Etiology, Prevention and Treatment." A review of Handbook of Depression in Children and Adolescents. Eds. John R.Z. Abela and Benjamin L. Hankin. New York: The Guilford Press. (Books and Publications: Book Review) 2009

Walder, D.J., J. Sherman and M. Pulsifer. "Neurodevelopmental Assessment." Evidence-based Practice in Infant and Early Childhood Psychology. Eds. F. Rubinson, B. Mowder and A. Yasik. Wiley & Sons, Publishers. (Books and Publications: Forthcoming Publications) 2009

Mittal, V.A., M. Sacazawa, D.J. Walder, R. Willhite and E.F. Walker. "Prenatal Exposure to Viral Infection and Conversion Among Adolescents at High-risk for Psychotic Disorders." Schizophrenia Research 99.1-3: 375-76. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2008

Walder, D.J., V. Mittal, H. Trotman, A.L. McMillan and E.F. Walker. "Neurocognition and Conversion to Psychosis in Adolescents at High-risk." Schizophrenia Research 101.1-3: 161-68. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2008

Mittal, V.A., S. Dhruv, K.D. Tessner, D.J. Walder and E.F. Walker. "The Relations Among Putative Bio Risk Markers in Schizotypal Adolescents: Minor Physical Anomalies, Movement Abnormalities and Salivary Cortisol." Biological Psychiatry 61.10: 1179-86. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2007

Walder, D.J., L.J. Seidman, N. Makris, M.T. Tsuang, D.N. Kennedy and J.M. Goldstein. "Neuroanatomic Substrates of Sex Differences in Language Dysfunction in Schizophrenia." Schizophrenia Research 90.1-3: 295-301. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2007

Goldstein, J.M. and D.J. Walder. "Sex Differences in Schizophrenia: The Case for Developmental Origins." The Early Course of Schizophrenia. Eds. T. Sharma and P. Harvey. Oxford University Press. (Books and Publications: Book Chapter) 2006

Walder, D.J., L.J. Seidman, N. Cullen, J. Su, M. Tsuang and J.M. Goldstein. "Sex Differences in Language Dysfunction in Schizophrenia." American Journal of Psychiatry 163.3: 470-77. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2006

Walder, D.J., T.L.C. Andersson, A.L. McMillan, S.M. Breedlove and E.F. Walker. "Sex Differences in Finger Digit Ratio (2D:4D) Are Disrupted in Adolescents With Schizotypal Personality Disorder: Altered Prenatal Gonadal Hormone Levels as a Risk Factor." Schizophrenia Research 86: 118-22. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2006

Walker, E., Z. Sabuwalla, A. Bollini and D. Walder. "Gender and Stress." Women's Mental Health: A Life-cycle Approach. Eds. S. Roman and M. Seeman. New York: Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins. (Books and Publications: Book Chapter) 2005

Walker, E. and D. Walder. "Neurohormonal Aspects of the Development of Psychotic Disorders." Neurodevelopmental Mechanisms in Psychopathology. Eds. D. Cichetti and E. Walker. Boston: Cambridge University Press. (Books and Publications: Book Chapter) 2002

Walker, E.F., D.J. Walder, R. Lewine and R. Loewy. "Sex Differences in the Origins and Premorbid Development of Schizophrenia." Psychiatric Illness in Women: Emerging Treatments and Research. Eds. F. Lewis-Hall, T.S. Williams, J.A. Panetta and J.H. Herrera. Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Publishing. (Books and Publications: Book Chapter) 2002

Walker, E.F., R. Bonsall and D.J. Walder. "Plasma Hormones and Catecholamine Metabolites in Monozygotic Twins Discordant for Psychosis." Neuropsychiatry, Neuropsychology and Behavioral Neurology 15: 10-17. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2002

Walker, E.F., D.J. Walder and F. Reynolds. "Developmental Changes in Cortisol Secretion in Normal and At-risk Youth." Development and Psychopathology 13: 721-32. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2001

Goldman, R.S., D. Robinson, B. Grube, R. Hanks, K. Putnam, D. Walder and J. Kane. "General Psychiatric Symptom Measures." Handbook of Psychiatric Measures and Outcome. Eds. A.J. Rush and H.A. Pincus. Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Press. (Books and Publications: Book Chapter) 2000

Walder, D.J., E.F. Walker and R.J. Lewine. "Cognitive Functioning, Cortisol Release and Symptom Severity in Patients With Schizophrenia." Biological Psychiatry 48: 1121-32. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2000

Szeszko, P., R.M. Bilder, J.A. Dunlop, D.J. Walder and J.A. Lieberman. "Longitudinal Assessment of Methylphenidate Effects on Oral Word Production in Acute and Stabilized Patients With First Episode Schizophrenia." Biological Psychiatry 45: 680-86. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 1999

Walker, E.F., C.B. Logan and D. Walder. "Indicators of Neurodevelopmental Abnormality in Schizotypal Personality Disorder." Psychiatric Annals 29: 132-36. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 1999

Awards, Honors and Fellowships

National Science Foundation, REU Award (4/2018 - 3/2021) "Intensive mentored Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) in psychology and neuroscience at an urban public college" (Award #1757560) Rabin (PI), Walder (Co-I)
(Grants and Fellowships) 2019

NARSAD Young Investigator Award, for "Diffusion Tensor Imaging and Structural MRI Abnormalities in Adolescents At-risk for Depression: The Role of Early Life Stress and 5-HTTLPR." 2010-2018. (Grants and Fellowships) 2018

National Science Foundation (NSF) REU Award (2015-2018) Intensive Mentored Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) in Psychology and Neuroscience at an Urban Public College (Award #1461099) Rabin (PI), Walder (Co-PI)
(Grants and Fellowships) 2018

PSC-CUNY Award. Stress, Premorbid Adjustment and Familial Risk in Prediction of Psychosis.
PI: Walder (Grants and Fellowships) 2018

National Science Foundation (NSF), REU Award (2012-2015) "Intensive mentored Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) in Cognitive, Behavioral, and Affective Neuroscience at an Urban Public College" (Award #1156870) Walder (Co-PI); Rabin (PI) $291,209
(Grants and Fellowships) 2015

Dean's Travel Award, School of Natural and Behavioral Sciences, 2011-2014 (Awards and Honors) 2014

Leonard & Claire Tow Faculty Fellowship, 2006, 2008, 2014 (Grants and Fellowships) 2014

PSC-CUNY Awards, 2006-2009, 2012-2014 (Grants and Fellowships) 2014

Faculty Fellowship Sabbatical, 2011-2012

Visiting Associate Professor of Psychology, Harvard Medical School, 2011-2012

Visiting Scientist, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, 2011-2012
(Grants and Fellowships) 2012

Provost Reassigned Time, 2010 (Awards and Honors) 2010

2009 NARSAD Michael F. Kaplen Investigator / NARSAD 2009 Research Partners Program
(Awards and Honors) 2009

The March of Dimes Foundation, for "The Effects of Prenatal Maternal Stress on Brain Morphology in 9-Year-Old Children: The Quebec 1998 Ice Storm Project." Principal investigator: S. King; co-investigators: D. Laplante, A. Brunet, T. Paus, J. Pruessner and D.J. Walder. 2007-10. (Grants and Fellowships) 2008

Research Activities

Journal referee, Neuropsychology (principal veviewer), American Journal of Psychiatry, Genes, Brain & Behavior, Biological Psychiatry, Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, Schizophrenia Research, Psychological Medicine, Brain and Language, The Journal of Early Adolescence, Journal of Child Psychiatry and Psychology, Central European Journal of Medicine, European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, Journal of Psychophysiology, Journal of Caffeine Research, Personality and Individual Differences and Psychiatry Research, Addiction Biology. 2012

Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums

"Neurodevelopment and Psychopathology." The Scholars Program 2011-2061, Brooklyn College. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2011

"Psychosis Risk: Early Neurodevelopment, Stress & Sexual Dimorphisms." Neuropsychology Seminar. Massachusetts General Hospital Psychology Assessment Center. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2011

"Stress and Neurohormones in Mental Health Risk." Psychology Colloquium Series. VA Connecticut Healthcare System/Yale School of Medicine. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2011

"Neurocognition, Stress and Bio-risk Markers of Psychopathology in a Healthy Sample of Young Adults." Seidman Research Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2010

"Psychiatric Symptoms in Relation to Neurocognitive Functioning Among Healthy Young Adults." San Raffaele Universitary Scientific Institute and SIRS Cognition Satellite Meeting. Florence, Italy, April 15. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2010

"The Intersection of Psychology and Neuroscience." Honors Academy Open House. Brooklyn College. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2010

"Early Neurodevelopmental Precursors to Mental Disorders: Consideration of Bio-risk Markers in the Context of G x E Interactions." Department of Psychiatry Grand Rounds, McGill University/Douglas Hospital Research Center. Montreal. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2008

Professional Leadership

Chair, CUNY Doctoral Student Research Grant Competition (Professional Leadership: Organizational Leadership Position) 2019

Chair, Faculty Membership Committee, CUNY M.S. Program in Cognitive Neuroscience (Professional Leadership: Organizational Leadership Position) 2019

Chair, Psychology Department Honors & Awards Committee, 2006-present. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2019

Deputy Executive Officer for Psychology Research, CUNY Graduate Center (Professional Leadership: Organizational Leadership Position) 2019

Doctoral Faculty, CUNY Graduate Center PhD Program in Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience (2013 to present) (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2019

Doctoral Faculty, CUNY Graduate Center PhD Program in Clinical Psychology with Emphasis in Neuropsychology (2005 to present) (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2019

Doctoral Faculty, CUNY Graduate Center PhD Program in Health Psychology & Clinical Science (2013 to present). (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2019

Executive Committee Member, CUNY M.S. Program in Cognitive Neuroscience (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2019

Organizer, CUNY All Psychology Student Research Day 2019 (Professional Leadership: Organizational Leadership Position) 2019

Chair, Undergraduate Curriculum Committee - Psychology Department, 2013-2016. (Professional Leadership: Organizational Leadership Position) 2016

Chair, University Committee on Research Awards (UCRA / PSC-CUNY Awards) - Psychology & Physiological Psychology Panel. This committee services a CUNY-wide faculty competitive grant mechanism, 2011-2016. (Professional Leadership: Organizational Leadership Position) 2016

Grant Reviewer, University Committee on Research Awards (PSC-CUNY Awards); CUNY-wide faculty grant mechanism, 2011-present. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2016

Review Editor, Editorial Board of Psychopathology, specialty of Frontiers in Psychology 2015-Present
(Professional Leadership: Organizational Leadership Position) 2016

Alternate member, Faculty Council, 2009-2015. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2015

Co-founder/Co-director, Brooklyn College-SUNY Downstate Medical Center Neuroscience Joint Seminar Series, 2010-2014. (Professional Leadership: Organizational Leadership Position) 2014

Clinical Psychology Area Representative, Program Committee, Eastern Psychological Association, 2012-15. (Professional Leadership: Organizational Leadership Position) 2012

Member, CUNY Neurosciences in Psychology Advisory Committee. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2012

Co-editor, Department of Psychology Newsletter, 2010-2011. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2011

Co-founder, Undergraduate Neuroscience Group, Department of Psychology. (Professional Leadership: Organizational Leadership Position) 2011

Member, Brooklyn College Strategic Planning Working Committee. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2010

Pedagogical Achievements

UNDERGRADUATE INSTRUCTION:

Senior Honors Thesis Colloquium (SPCM 3185), Behavioral Neuroendocrinology (PSYC 3610/BIOL 3020); Abnormal Psychology I & II (2810, 3810), Statistical Methods in Psychological Research (3400), Behavior Therapy (3825), Psyc & Developmental Disorders of Childhood (3240), Counseling: Theory & Technique (3830), Psycho-Social Development & College Student (INDS 1002), Independent Honors Research (5001) & Fieldwork (5010), Laboratory Experience (2001)

MASTERS INSTRUCTION:

Counseling Internship I & II (795.10G, 795.20G), Cognitive & Behavioral Approaches to Psychotherapy (754.32G), Psychopathology (U755G), Independent Research (7795).

DOCTORAL INSTRUCTION:

Biological Basis of Behavior (75102), Psychopathology (U755G), Behavioral Neuroendocrinology (BIO 7933G/79303), Research Practicum (70330), Colloquium (U801.09), Independent Reading (70400), Dissertation Supervision (90000). 2019

Adviser, Honors Academy Scholars Program. 2014

Academic adviser, Department of Psychology. 2011