Dean Cruess

Professor

Psychological Sciences

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Education

Ph.D., 1998, University of Miami

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Research Interests

Dr. Cruess conducts research within the subfields of Clinical Psychology, Health Psychology, and Personality Psychology. His research involves understanding how psychosocial and physiological factors impact thoughts, emotions, behaviors and mental and physical health outcomes. He is also interested in designing interventions to modify these important factors. Dr. Cruess is specifically interested in how stress, depression, anxiety, sleep, and personality characteristics influence risk behavior and ultimately how these factors impact mental health and physical health functioning. He has studied these factors in a variety of patient populations, including people living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and cardiovascular disease. He is currently examining these factors among psychiatric inpatients.

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Teaching

PSYC 2300 (Abnormal Psychology)

PSYC 5301 (Adult Psychopathology)

PSYC 6301 (Adult Psychotherapy Practicum)

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Publications

Representative

Strainge, L., Sullivan, M.C., Blackmon, J.E., Cruess, S.E., Wheeler, D., & Cruess, D.G. (2019). PROMIS-assessed sleep problems and physical health symptoms in adult psychiatric inpatients. Health Psychology, 38, 376-385.

Cruess, D.G., Burnham, K., Finitsis, D., Goshe, B., Strainge, L., Kalichman, M.O., Grebler, T., Cherry, C., & Kalichman, S. C. (2018). A randomized clinical trial of a brief Internet-based group intervention to reduce sexual transmission risk behavior among HIV-positive gay and bisexual men. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 52, 116-129.

Cruess, D.G., Burnham, K., Finitsis, D., Cherry, C., Grebler, T., Goshe, B., Strainge, L., Kalichman, M.O., & Kalichman, S. C. (2017). Online partner seeking and sexual risk among HIV+ gay and bisexual men: A dialectical perspective. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 46, 1079-1087.

Cruess, D.G., Finitsis, D.J., Smith, A.L., Goshe, B.M., Burnham, K.E., Burbridge, C., O’Leary, K. (2015). Brief Stress Management Reduces Acute Distress and Buffers Physiological Response to a Social Stress Test. International Journal of Stress Management, 22, 270-286.

Cruess, D.G., Benedict, C., Lattie, E.G., Molton, I., Kinsinger, D., Kava, B., Manoharan, M., Soloway, M., & Penedo, F.J. (2013).  Predictors of mental and physical health functioning among men treated for localized prostate cancer. Journal of Personality Assessment, 95, 54-61.

Cruess, D.G., Kalichman, S.C, Amaral, C., Swetzes, C., Cherry, C. & Kalichman, M.O. (2012). Benefits of adherence to psychotropic medications on depressive symptoms and HIV medication adherence among HIV-positive men and women.  Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 43, 189-197.

Cruess, D.G., Localio, A.R., Platt, A.B., Brensinger, C.M., Christie, J.D., Gross, R, Parker, C.S., Price, M., Metlay, J.P., Cohen, A., Newcomb, C.W., Strom, B.L., & Kimmel, S.E.  (2010). Patient attitudinal and behavioral factors associated with warfarin non-adherence at outpatient anticoagulation clinics.  International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 17, 33-42.

Cruess, D.G., Meagher, S., Antoni, M.H., & Millon, T. (2007). Utility of the Millon Behavioral Medicine Diagnostic (MBMD) to predict adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) medication regimens among HIV-positive men and women. Journal of Personality Assessment, 89, 277-290.

Cruess, D.G., Douglas, S.D., Petitto, J.M., Ten Have, T., Gettes, D., Dub©, B., Cary, M., & Evans, D.L. (2005).  Association of resolution of major depression with increased natural killer cell activity among HIV-seropositive women.  American Journal of Psychiatry, 162, 2125-2130.

Cruess, D.G., Antoni, M.H., Schneiderman, N., Ironson, G., McCabe, P., Fernandez, J.B., Cruess, S.E., Klimas, N., & Kumar, M. (2000).  Cognitive-behavioral stress management increases free testosterone and decreases psychological distress in HIV-seropositive men.  Health Psychology, 19, 12-20.

Cruess, D.G., Antoni, M.H., McGregor, B.A., Kilbourn, K.M., Boyers, A.E., Alferi, S.M., Carver, C.S. & Kumar, M. (2000). Cognitive-behavioral stress management reduces serum cortisol by enhancing benefit finding among women being treated for early-stage breast cancer. Psychosomatic Medicine, 62, 304-308.