Researcher | Research Overview
Dr. Eugene D’Angelo’s professional work is guided by the conviction that evidence-based practice --- that is, assessments and treatments that have been evaluated through research -- is the most effective and efficient way to address the challenges of real world mental health service delivery to children and their families. As such, his work focuses on the enhancement of clinical outcomes through implementation of innovative mental health prevention and treatment efforts in complex clinical settings. The “real world” of clinical practice is an environment of complex co-occurring and severe psychopathology; diverse ethnic, racial, and cultural communities; contextual issues such as a patient’s motivation for change, family resources, and resiliencies/vulnerabilities. Additionally, there are a multiplicity of service system difficulties which adversely impact an individual’s access to care. His research efforts focus on the “adaptations of evidence-based practices” in the following contexts: 1) adaptation of a family depression intervention for Latino families (D’Angelo, et al., 2009); 2) refinement of relaxation training which relies on use of relationally-based imagery with anxious Latino patients (LaRoche, et al); 3) adaptation of group treatment protocols to enhance clinical outcome (D’Angelo & Botta, 2007); and 4) evaluation of a multi-site NIMH adolescent group preventive intervention (Garber et al., 2009).
His research in developmental psychopathology focuses on the developmental and behavioral manifestations of early symptoms of psychosis, with a particular focus on identifying these clinically high risk youth who are also evidencing suicidal ideation. He is working on trying to better establish the parameters of risk for psychosis by focusing on refining identification of relevant behavioral symptoms below the age of 10 years and the cognitive correlates between the earliest features of disorganized thinking, social cognition, and interpersonal communication skills.
Researcher | Research Background
Dr. Eugene D’Angelo is Chief for the Division of Psychology and Director of the Outpatient Psychiatry Services in the Department of Psychiatry. Dr. D’Angelo holds the Linda and Timothy O’Neill Chair in Psychology at Boston Children’s Hospital. He is an Associate Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School. Dr. D’Angelo received his PhD from the University of Michigan, completed his internship training at Boston Children’s Hospital, and a postdoctoral fellowship at the Judge Baker Children’s Center/Boston Children’s Hospital. He is board certified in Clinical Psychology from the American Board of Professional Psychology.
Dr. D’Angelo is a Past President of the American Academy of Clinical Psychology and also of the Massachusetts Psychological Association.