David B Abrams

Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Professional overview

Dr. David Abrams' career focuses on systems and social learning frameworks to inform population health enhancement. He has experience in testing theory, research design, measuring mechanisms of behavior change and outcome, and evaluating clinical trials (behavioral and pharmacological). His interests span topics from basic bio-behavioral mechanisms and clinical treatments to policy across risk factors and behaviors (e.g. tobacco/nicotine; alcohol, obesity, co-morbidity of medical and mental health), disease states (cancer; cardiovascular; HIV-AIDS), levels (biological, individual, organizational, worksite, community, global, and internet based), populations and disparities. His interests converge in the domain of implementation science to cost-efficiently inform evidence-based public health practice and policymaking.

Through transdisciplinary and translational research strategies, Dr. Abrams provides scientific leadership in tobacco control. His current focus is in strengthening global and United States tobacco and nicotine management strategies. Deaths of 1 billion smokers are estimated by 2100 caused overwhelmingly by use of combustible (smoked) tobacco products, not nicotine. Harm minimization is a key overarching systems strategy to speed the net public health benefit of emergent disruptive technologies for cleaner nicotine delivery. The goal is more rapid elimination of preventable deaths, disease burdens, and the widening gap in health disparities driven disproportionately by disparities in smoking.

Dr. Abrams was a professor and founding director of the Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine at Brown University Medical School. He then directed the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Until 2017, he was Professor of Health Behavior and Society at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the founding Executive Director of the Schroeder National Institute of Tobacco Research and Policy Studies at Truth Initiative (formerly the American Legacy Foundation).

Dr. Abrams has published over 250 peer reviewed scholarly articles and been a Principal Investigator on numerous NIH grants. He is lead author of The Tobacco Dependence Treatment Handbook: A Guide to Best Practices. He has served on expert panels at NIH and National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine on Obesity, Alcohol Misuse and Ending the Tobacco Problem: A Blueprint for the Nation. He has also served on the Board of Scientific Advisors of the National Cancer Institute (NIH-NCI) and was President of the Society of Behavioral Medicine.

For a complete list of Dr. Abrams' published work, click here.

Education

BSc (Hons), Psychology and Computer Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

MS, Clinical Psychology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ

PhD, Clinical Psychology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ

Postdoctoral Fellow, Brown Medical School, Providence, RI

Honors and awards

Research Laureate Award, American Academy of Health Behavior (2014)

Joseph W. Cullen Memorial Award for Tobacco Research, American Society for Preventive Oncology (2008)

Distinguished Alumni Award: Rutgers University, The Graduate School, New Brunswick, NJ (2007)

The Musiker-Miranda Distinguished Service Award, American Psychological Association (2006)

Distinguished Service Award, Society of Behavioral Medicine (2006)

Outstanding Research Mentor Award, Society of Behavioral Medicine (2006)

Book of the Year Award: Tobacco Dependence Treatment Handbook. American Journal of Nursing (2005)

Distinguished Scientist Award, Society of Behavioral Medicine (1998)

Areas of research and study

Behavioral Science

Chronic Diseases

Evaluations

Implementation and Impact of Public Health Regulations

Implementation science

Population Health

Public Health Pedagogy

Public Health Systems

Research Design

Systems Integration

Systems Interventions

Tobacco Control

Translational science

Publications

Publications

The proximal association between smoking and alcohol use among first year college students

Dierker, L., Lloyd-Richardson, E., Stolar, M., Flay, B., Tiffany, S., Collins, L., Bailey, S., Nichter, M., Clayton, R., Abrams, D., Balster, R., Dahl, R., Giovino, G., Henningfield, J., Koob, G., McMahon, R., Merikangas, K., Shiffman, S., Prager, D., … Stroud, L. (n.d.).

Publication year

2006

Journal title

Drug and alcohol dependence

Volume

81

Issue

1

Page(s)

1-9

10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2005.05.012

Abstract

Abstract

Objective: This study was undertaken to evaluate the association between patterns of day-to-day smoking and drinking among first year college students. Method: Using 210 days of weekly time-line follow-back diary data, the authors examined the within-person relationships between smoking and drinking. Bivariate time series procedures were utilized. Results: Findings revealed a high degree of significant cross-correlations between smoking and drinking in which the amount of use of one substance could be predicted by current, as well as past and future use of the other. For the majority of participants, smoking and drinking were positively associated with the alternate behavior. The most common pattern of prediction for individuals was within day (i.e. synchronous correlations). When examining rates of individuals showing significant cross-correlations according to their level of either smoking or drinking, those smoking less than one cigarette on average per day were found to be less likely to demonstrate a synchronous cross-correlation between the two behaviors than those smoking at higher rates. No significant association was found between level of drinking and the rate of significant synchronous cross-correlations between smoking and drinking. Conclusions: Reports of daily behavior over long periods of time have the potential to provide insight into the more proximal influences of smoking and alcohol use on one another. Future research is needed to establish the specific factors (i.e. third variables) and related mechanisms that may drive both behaviors.

Home health care nurses as a new channel for smoking cessation treatment : Outcomes from project CARES (Community-nurse Assisted Research and Education on Smoking)

Failed retrieving data.

Initial evaluation of a real-world internet smoking cessation system

Failed retrieving data.

Reducing the cancer burden of lifestyle factors : Opportunities and challenges of the internet

Graham, A. L., & Abrams, D. (n.d.).

Publication year

2005

Journal title

Journal of medical Internet research

Volume

7

Issue

3

10.2196/jmir.7.3.e26

Abstract

Abstract

This paper focuses on the Internet as a tool for enhancing behavior and lifestyle changes to reduce the burden of cancer at a population level. The premise of this paper is that the Internet can and should be leveraged to bridge the chasm between basic science, clinical trials, and public health. Our focus is specifically on the opportunity to disseminate effective behavioral science interventions via the Internet in order to decrease the prevalence of behavioral risk factors for cancer. The examples herein are primarily drawn from tobacco use to illustrate issues that can be applied more generally to other behavioral risk factors for cancer. Four areas will be addressed: (1) the scientific basis and rationale for delivering lifestyle behavior change interventions via the Internet; (2) the need to determine the quality of Internet interventions; (3) methodological considerations in conducting evaluations of Internet interventions; and (4) recommendations for a transdisciplinary approach to Internet intervention development and evaluation.

The efficacy of moderate intensity exercise as an aid for smoking cessation in women : A randomized controlled trial

Failed retrieving data.

Adolescents' responses to the gender valence of cigarette advertising imagery : The role of affect and the self-concept

Shadel, W. G., Niaura, R. S., & Abrams, D. (n.d.).

Publication year

2004

Journal title

Addictive Behaviors

Volume

29

Issue

9

Page(s)

1735-1744

10.1016/j.addbeh.2004.03.042

Abstract

Abstract

The studies presented in this manuscript evaluated the role that affect and the self-concept play in adolescent never smokers' reactions to the gender valence of cigarette advertising imagery. Study 1 (n=29; 59% female) revealed that adolescent females have more positive affective reactions to female-valenced cigarette advertising imagery compared to male-valenced cigarette advertising imagery. Study 2 (n=101; 56% female) revealed that adolescent females viewed female-valenced cigarette advertising imagery as more relevant to their self-concepts compared to male-valenced cigarette advertising imagery. Across both studies, male adolescents did not respond differently as a function of the gender valence of cigarette advertising imagery. Thus, female-valenced cigarette advertising imagery may have specific effects on never smoking female adolescents by enhancing positive affect and suggesting that women who smoke hold the same characteristics as do the young women themselves.

Developing an integrative social-cognitive strategy for personality assessment at the level of the individual : An illustration with regular cigarette smokers

Shadel, W. G., Cervone, D., Niaura, R. S., & Abrams, D. (n.d.).

Publication year

2004

Journal title

Journal of Research in Personality

Volume

38

Issue

4

Page(s)

394-419

10.1016/j.jrp.2003.09.001

Abstract

Abstract

Basic advances in social cognition have not fully translated into similar advances for personality assessment. In this study, we evaluated whether an integrated social cognitive approach to personality assessment (i.e., one that employs an idiographic assessment of a multi-faceted self-system, priming procedures, and reaction time tasks) could be applied to assess a social cognitive personality system at the individual level in a particularly challenging population: Cigarette smokers. This integrative approach was necessary to detect the idiosyncratic content and contextualized structure of the three self-schemas (smoker self-schema, abstainer ideal possible self, abstainer ought possible self) that composed this social cognitive personality system. Priming different self-structures enhanced reaction times to contextually bound self-referent information. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for social cognitive theories of personality and personality assessment.

Effects of tobacco deprivation on alcohol cue reactivity and drinking among young adults

Failed retrieving data.

Investigating the big five personality factors and smoking : Implications for assessment

Failed retrieving data.

Motivational enhancement and coping skills training for cocaine abusers : Effects on substance use outcomes

Failed retrieving data.

Smoking cessation treatment on the Internet : Content, quality, and usability

Failed retrieving data.

Thinking about craving : An experimental analysis of smokers' spontaneous self-reports of craving

Failed retrieving data.

Who am I? The role of self-conflict in adolescents' responses to cigarette advertising

Shadel, W. G., Niaura, R. S., & Abrams, D. (n.d.).

Publication year

2004

Journal title

Journal of Behavioral Medicine

Volume

27

Issue

5

Page(s)

463-475

10.1023/B:JOBM.0000047610.07195.b0

Abstract

Abstract

Cigarette advertising may be partly responsible for adolescent smoking initiation, but few studies have investigated the advertising and individual difference factors that may be responsible. This study evaluated whether individual differences in the number of self-conflicts (i.e., conflicts between personality attributes experienced as part of self-concept development) interacts with stage of development (early versus middle adolescence) to predict responses to cigarette advertising imagery. One hundred and one never smoking adolescents judged the self-relevance of various cigarette advertisements. As predicted, self-conflict was related to judgments of self-relevance for early adolescents only: early adolescents who are having the most difficulty defining themselves are more likely to look to the powerful images displayed by cigarette advertisements for help. These results have implications for understanding the impact of cigarette advertising on smoking initiation for some adolescents.

Alcohol specific role play test

Abrams, D. (n.d.). (J. Allen & M. Columbus, Eds.).

Publication year

2003

Abstract

Abstract

~

Comments on "Challenges to Improving the Impact of Worksite Cancer Prevention Programs" : Paradigm Lost?

Winett, R. A., Linnan, L., Klar, N., Emmons, K., LaForge, R., Fava, J., & Abrams, D. (n.d.).

Publication year

2003

Journal title

Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Volume

26

Issue

3

10.1207/s15324796abm2603_07

Abstract

Abstract

~

Effects of motivational interviewing on smoking cessation in adolescents with psychiatric disorders

Failed retrieving data.

Facilitating transdisciplinary research : The experience of the transdisciplinary tobacco use research centers

Failed retrieving data.

Naltrexone treatment for alcoholics : Effect on cigarette smoking rates

Failed retrieving data.

Ongoing research and future directions

Monti, P., Niaura, R. S., & Abrams, D. (n.d.).

Publication year

2003

Abstract

Abstract

~

Planning evidence-based treatment of tobacco dependence

Abrams, D., & Niaura, R. S. (n.d.).

Publication year

2003

Abstract

Abstract

~

Psychosocial assessment and coping skills treatment for cocaine abuse: Preliminary results

Rohsenow, D., Monti, P., & Abrams, D. (n.d.). (F. Tims, J. Blaine, L. Onken, & B. Tai, Eds.).

Publication year

2003

Abstract

Abstract

~

Rationale, design, and baseline data for Commit to Quit II : An evaluation of the efficacy of moderate-intensity physical activity as an aid to smoking cessation in women

Failed retrieving data.

Rejoinder to “Comments on ‘Challenges to improving the impact of worksite cancer prevention programs’: Paradigm lost or paradigm found? Important trade-offs and realities of conducting worksite- and community-based research.

Linnan, L., Klar, N., Emmons, K., LaForge, R., Fava, J., & Abrams, D. (n.d.).

Publication year

2003

Journal title

Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Volume

26

Issue

3

Page(s)

222-223

Abstract

Abstract

~

Socioeconomic status over the life course and stages of cigarette use : Initiation, regular use, and cessation

Failed retrieving data.

Stress and anxiety after 9/11: a prospective study

Bock, B., Becker, B., Partridge, R., Niaura, R. S., & Abrams, D. (n.d.).

Publication year

2003

Journal title

Medicine and Health Rhode Island

Volume

86

Issue

11

Page(s)

340-341

Abstract

Abstract

~