Michael McDonell, PhD

Faculty Appointment(s)

Associate Professor

mikemcd@uw.edu

206-744-9971

Personal Statement

My primary interest is on determining how behavioral technologies can be used to improve alcohol and drug abuse outcomes for those suffering from addiction health disparities. Behavioral technologies are non-talk therapy approaches to addiction treatment, such as motivational incentives where we provide rewards for people who abstain from or reduce their drinking. This low-cost, strength based approach to addiciton can be implimented in low-resources settings by non clinicians. In fact, our group is investigating how smartphones might be used to impliment this treatment, allowing us to reach the millions of individuals suffering from alcohol problems worldwide.  

My second research interest in evaluating the accuracy of alcohol biomarkers in addiction treatment settings. These include alcohol urine tests, such as ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and mobile phone linked Bluetooth breathalyzers. These tools allow us to accurately assess  the sucess of alcohol treatments, as well as provide valuable research tools.      

Importantly all of my ressearch studies are conducted in collaboration with two communities that suffer dispproporationately high rates of alcohol and drug miuse, 1) adults with severe mental illnesses, like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and 2) American Indians and Alaska Natives. My reserach team and I work closely with community partners who are providing addiction treatment to these populations with the goal of reducing the burden of alcohol and drug use in these communities. 

Recent Publications

Assessing the Predictive Validity of the Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale (SOCRATES) in Alaska Native and American Indian People.
(2020 May 4)
J Addict Med
Lillie KM, Jansen KJ, Dirks LG, Lyons AJ, Alcover KC, Avey JP, Hirchak K, Herron J, Buchwald D, Donovan DM, McDonell MG, Shaw JL
Proximity to Screening Site, Rurality, and Neighborhood Disadvantage: Treatment Status among Individuals with Sexually Transmitted Infections in Yakima County, Washington.
(2020 Apr 14)
Int J Environ Res Public Health 17(8):
Amiri S, Pham CD, Amram O, Alcover KC, Oluwoye O, Bravo L, Sixberry M, McDonell MG, Roll JM, Fresco A
HIV and syphilis infections and associated factors among patients in treatment at a Specialist Alcohol, Tobacco, and Drugs Center in São Paulo's "Cracolândia".
(2020 Jan-Mar)
Trends Psychiatry Psychother 42(1): 1-6
Ribeiro A, Trevizol A, Oluwoye O, McPherson S, McDonell MG, Briese V, Miguel AC, Fratzinger RC, Laranjeira RR, Alonso AL, Karasin AL, Ribeiro M, Madruga CS
Contingency management is effective in promoting abstinence and retention in treatment among crack cocaine users with a previous history of poor treatment response: a crossover trial.
(2019 Jul 15)
Psicol Reflex Crit 32(1): 14
de Queiroz Constantino Miguel A, Sandi Madruga C, Simões V, Yamauchi R, da Silva CJ, McDonell M, McPherson S, Roll J, Laranjeira RR, de Jesus Mari J
The impact of early family contact on quality of life among non-Hispanic Blacks and Whites in the RAISE-ETP trial.
(2020 Feb)
Schizophr Res 216(): 523-525
Oluwoye O, Kriegel L, Alcover KC, Compton MT, Cabassa LJ, McDonell MG
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