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- Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
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Psychiatry, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
My research applies basic learning and reinforcement processes to clinical problems of substance use disorders. In double-blind, placebo-controlled laboratory studies, I have examined how the subjective and reinforcing effects of several commonly used drugs (e.g., caffeine, alcohol, cocaine) impact drug taking and risk behavior. I also have experience conducting randomized, controlled clinical trials including: use of motivational incentives (i.e., contingency management) to promote cocaine abstinence in methadone maintenance patients, implementing adjunctive memory training for individuals enrolled in substance use treatment, and assessing a brief, manualized caffeine cessation and reduction program in individuals with problematic caffeine use. My current focus on clinical substance use phenomena is grounded in my past experience in translational behavioral science with humans and nonhumans. All my work shares the common goal of using the principles of reinforcement and behavioral pharmacology to understand, prevent, and treat substance use disorders.
Sweeney, M. M., Meredith, S. E., Juliano, L. M., Evatt, D. P., & Griffiths, R. R. (2019). A randomized controlled trial of a manual-only treatment for reduction and cessation of problematic caffeine use. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 195, 45-51.
Sweeney, M. M., Antoine. D., Nanda, L., Géniaux, H., Lofwall, M. R., Bigelow, G. E., Umbricht, A. (In Press). Increases in Body Mass Index and cardiovascular risk factors during methadone maintenance treatment. Journal of Opioid Management.
Sweeney, M. M., Meredith, S. E., Evatt, D. P, Griffiths, R. R. (2017). Effects of caffeine on alcohol reinforcement: Beverage choice, self-administration, and subjective ratings. Psychopharmacology, 234(5), 877-888.
Sweeney, M. M., Rass, O., Johnson, P. S., Strain, E. C., Berry, M. S., Vo, H. T., Fishman, M. J., Munro, C. A., Rebok, G. W., Mintzer, M. Z, Johnson, M. W. (2016). Initial feasibility and validity of a prospective memory training program in a substance use treatment population. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 24(5), 390-399.
Sweeney, M. M., & Shahan, T. A. (2016). Resurgence of target responses does not exceed increases in inactive responses in a forced-choice alternative reinforcement procedure in humans. Behavioural Processes, 124, 80-92.