Who We Are

Personal Statement

Dr. Cadigan is an Assistant Professor and licensed psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Missouri in 2016 and then completed clinical psychology internship and fellowship at the University of Washington Medical Center. Her program of research focuses on adolescent and young adult health and wellbeing, with an emphasis on the etiology, prevention, and intervention of substance misuse and co-occurring mental health concerns. This work aims to develop, test, and disseminate innovative prevention and intervention programs to reduce substance misuse and improve mental health among adolescents and young adults. This work has included developing and testing programs for young adults who use substances to cope with negative affect and loneliness. Her work has also examined etiological factors related to co-occurring mental health and substance use, including the effects of loneliness, depression, coping motives, social support, solitary substance use, and factors associated with improving access to mental health care. Clinically, she works with adolescents presenting with depression and suicidality at Seattle Children’s Hospital in the Behavioral Health Crisis Care Clinic and in the Mood and Anxiety Program.  

• Recent Grants:
  • Development of a behavioral economic intervention with personalized resource allocation feedback to reduce young adult alcohol misuse  (PI: Cadigan, NIH/NIAAA1R34AA029478)
  • Development of an interactive, we-based drinking to cope intervention and tools to assess coping skill utilization (PI: Cadigan, NIH/NIAAA R34AA028074)

Department Affiliations