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Deborah A. King, Ph.D.

Deborah A. King, Ph.D.

Contact

Appointment (585) 275-3612

About Me

Dr. Deborah King is Professor Emerita in the URMC Department of Psychiatry. As a career educator, she has worked actively to promote inter-professional training for clinicians, training faculty and researchers in university, community, and VA settings. She served previously as Associate Chair for Ed...
Dr. Deborah King is Professor Emerita in the URMC Department of Psychiatry. As a career educator, she has worked actively to promote inter-professional training for clinicians, training faculty and researchers in university, community, and VA settings. She served previously as Associate Chair for Education, Chief of Psychology, Director of Geriatric Psychiatry Services, and Director of Psychology Training in the Department of Psychiatry. She also served as Director of Fellowship and Graduate Training at the VA VISN 2 Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention in Canandaigua, New York. Her scholarship focuses on late-life depression and suicide, as well as family interventions for older adults with mental health challenges or life-threatening medical illnesses.

Faculty Appointments

Professor Emerita - Department of Psychiatry, Geriatric/Psychiatry (SMD)

Credentials

Post-doctoral Training & Residency

Postdoctoral Fellowship in Geropsychology and Neuropsychology, Program in Geriatrics and Neuropsychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry 1984 - 1985

Postdoctoral Fellowship in Adult Clinical Psychology, Division of Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry 1982 - 1984

Education

PhD | Indiana University. Clinical Psychology. 1983

BA | Indiana University. Psychology. 1977

Awards

Outstanding Psychologist of the Year, Genesee Valley Psychological Association. 2014

Rita P. Underberg Award for Excellence in Teaching in the Psychology Training Program. 2008

Clinical Mentorship Award, Society of Clinical Geropsychology, American Psychological Association. 2007 - 2007

Mary Lou Meyers, MD Award for Outstanding Medical Student Teaching, Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester. 2006 - 2006

Fellow, Society of Clinical Psychology (Division 12), American Psychological Association. 2005 - 2005

1984-85 NIMH Fellow in Geropsychology and Neuropsychology, Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry 1984 - 1985

NIMH Fellowship Awards in Psychology and Geropsychology. 1982 - 1985

Honors Research Grant, Department of Women's Studies, Indiana University. 1980 - 1980

Phi Beta Kappa. 1977

Graduation Honors in Psychology, Indiana University. 1977

NIMH U.S. Public Health Traineeship in Psychology, Indiana University. 1977 - 1978

Publications

Journal Articles

Concerns of Older Veteran Callers to the Veterans Crisis Line.

Rasmussen KA, King DA, Gould MS, Cross W, Tang W, Kaukeinen K, Tu X, Knox KL

Suicide & life-threatening behavior.. 2017 August 47 (4):387-397. Epub 12/09/2016.

Sleep and Suicide in Older Adults: An Opportunity for Intervention.

Bishop TM, Simons KV, King DA, Pigeon WR

Clinical therapeutics.. 2016 November 38 (11):2332-2339. Epub 10/15/2016.

Spirituality attenuates the association between depression symptom severity and meaning in life.

Bamonti P, Lombardi S, Duberstein PR, King DA, Van Orden KA

Aging & mental health.. 2016 20 (5):494-9. Epub 03/26/2015.

Adapting interpersonal psychotherapy for older adults at risk for suicide.

Heisel MJ, Talbot NL, King DA, Tu XM, Duberstein PR

The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry.. 2015 January 23 (1):87-98. Epub 03/29/2014.

Adapting interpersonal psychotherapy for older adults at risk for suicide. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 23.

Heisel, M.J., Talbot, N.L., King, D.A. & Tu, X.M.

2015; : 87-98.

Opportunities for psychologists in palliative care: Working with patients and families across the disease continuum. American Psychologist,

Kasi-Godley, J.E., King, D.A. & Quill, T.E.

2014; : 364-376.

Age-related concerns of mail veteran callers to a suicide crisis line. Archives of Suicide Research, 18.

King, D.A., *O'Riley, A.A., Thompson, C., Conwell, Y., He, H. & Kemp, J.

2014; : 445-452.

Age-related concerns of male veteran callers to a suicide crisis line.

King DA, O'Riley AA, Thompson C, Conwell Y, He H, Kemp J

Archives of suicide research : official journal of the International Academy for Suicide Research.. 2014 18 (4):445-52. Epub 1900 01 01.

Opportunities for psychologists in palliative care: Working with patients and families across the disease continuum.

Kasl-Godley JE, King DA, Quill TE

The American psychologist.. 2014 69 (4):364-76. Epub 1900 01 01.

You know a tree by its fruit: Growing a fellowship program for community partnered mental health disparities research in an academic medical center. International Public Health Journal,

White, A.M., Castle, K., Sorensen, S., Briody, S., Min, D., Dailey, H., King, D.A., Fogarty, C., Duberstein, P.

2013; : 267-277.

Using the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide to Inform Interpersonal Psychotherapy with a Suicidal Older Adult.

Van Orden KA, Talbot N, King D

Clinical case studies.. 2012 October 11 (5):333-347. Epub 08/30/2012.

The hidden caregiver: Kinship caregivers and lessons learned from dementia family caregiving

Lane, G., Podgorski, C., Norohna, D. & King, D.

Clinical Geropsychologist. 2012; 35: 195-203.

Does perceived burdensomeness erode meaning in life among older adults?

Van Orden, K.A., Bamonti, P.M., King, D.A. & Duberstein, P.R.

Aging and Mental Health,. 2012; 16: 855-860.

Use of the interpersonal theory of suicide to inform interpersonal psychotherapy with a suicidal older adult.

Van Orden, K.A., Talbot, N. & King, D.

Clinical Case Studies. 2012; 11.: 333-347.

Does perceived burdensomeness erode meaning in life among older adults?

Van Orden KA, Bamonti PM, King DA, Duberstein PR

Aging & mental health.. 2012 16 (7):855-60. Epub 03/08/2012.

Trait neuroticism, depression, and cognitive function in older primary care patients.

Boyle LL, Lyness JM, Duberstein PR, Karuza J, King DA, Messing S, Tu X

The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry.. 2010 April 18 (4):305-12. Epub 1900 01 01.

Depression predicts cognitive disorders in older primary care patients.

Boyle LL, Porsteinsson AP, Cui X, King DA, Lyness JM

The Journal of clinical psychiatry.. 2010 January 71 (1):74-9. Epub 1900 01 01.

Trait neuroticism, depression, and cognitive function in older primary care patients

Boyle, LL., Lyness, J.M., Duberstein, P.R., Karuza, J., King, D.A., Messing, S., Tu X.

American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 2010; 18: 305-312.

Depression predicts cognitive disorders in older primary care patients

Boyle, L.L., Porsteinsson, A.P., Cui, X., King, D.A., Lyness, J.M.

Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. 2010; 71: 74-79.

Assessing families in palliative care: a pilot study of the checklist of family relational abilities.

Wilkins VM, Quill TE, King DA

Journal of palliative medicine.. 2009 June 12 (6):517-9. Epub 1900 01 01.

Losing function, staying connected: Family dynamics in provision of care for people with dementia

Podgorski, C. & King, D.A.

Generations: Journal of the American Society on Aging. 2009; 33: 24-29.

Assessing families in palliative care: A pilot study of the Checklist of Family Relational Abilities

Wilkins, V.M, Quill, T.E., King, D.A.

Journal of Palliative Medicine. 2009; 12: 517-519.

Adapting Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Older Adults at Risk for Suicide: Preliminary Findings.

Heisel MJ, Duberstein PR, Talbot NL, King DA, Tu XM

Professional psychology, research and practice.. 2009 40 (2):156-164. Epub 1900 01 01.

Adapting interpersonal therapy for older adults at risk for suicide: Preliminary findings

Heisel, M.J., Duberstein, P.R., Talbot, N.L., King, D.A., Tu, X.M.

Professional Psychology: Research and Practice. 2008; 40: 156-164.

A qualitative report of dual palliative care/ethics consultations: Intersecting dilemmas and paradigmatic cases

Childers, J.W., Demme, R., Greenlaw, J., King, D.A., Quill, T.

Journal of Clinical Ethics. 2008; 19: 204-213.

A qualitative report of dual palliative care/ethics consultations: intersecting dilemmas and paradigmatic cases.

Childers JW, Demme R, Greenlaw J, King DA, Quill T

The Journal of clinical ethics.. 2008 19 (3):204-13. Epub 1900 01 01.

Does depression precede or follow executive dysfunction? Outcomes in older primary care patients.

Cui X, Lyness JM, Tu X, King DA, Caine ED

The American journal of psychiatry.. 2007 August 164 (8):1221-8. Epub 1900 01 01.

The clinical significance of subsyndromal depression in older primary care patients.

Lyness JM, Kim J, Tang W, Tu X, Conwell Y, King DA, Caine ED

The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry.. 2007 March 15 (3):214-23. Epub 01/09/2007.

Does depression precede or follow executive dysfunction? Outcomes in older primary care patients

Ciu, X., Lyness, J.M., Tu, X.M., King, D.A., Caine, E.D.

American Journal of Psychiatry. 2007; 164: 1221-1228.

The clinical significance of subsyndromal depression in older primary care patients

Lyness, J. M., Kim, J., Tang, W., Tu, S., Conwell, Y., King, D.A., Caine, E.D.

American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 2007; 15: 214-223.

Religious involvement and depressive symptoms in primary care elders

King, D. A., Lyness, J. M., Duberstein, P. R., He, H., Tu, X. M., Seaburn, D. B.

Psychological Medicine. 2007; 37(12): 1807-1816.

Religious involvement and depressive symptoms in primary care elders

King, D. A., Lyness, J. M., Duberstein, P. R., He, H., Tu, X. M., Seaburn, D. B.

Psychological Medicine. 2007; 37(12): 1807-1816.

Working with families in palliative care: one size does not fit all.

King DA, Quill T

Journal of palliative medicine.. 2006 June 9 (3):704-15. Epub 1900 01 01.

Cerebrovascular risk factors, executive dysfunction, and depression in older primary care patients.

Sanders ML, Lyness JM, Eberly S, King DA, Caine ED

The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry.. 2006 February 14 (2):145-52. Epub 1900 01 01.

Cerebrovascular risk factors, cognition, and depression in older primary care patients: Focus on executive dysfunction

Sanders, M.S., Lyness, J.M., Eberly, S., King, D.A., Caine, E.D.

American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 2006; 14: 145-152.

Working with families in palliative care: One size does not fit all

King, D.A., Quill, T.

Journal of Palliative Medicine. 2006; 9: 704-715.

Cerebrovascular risk factors, executive dysfunction, and depression in older primary care patients

Schoepflin Sanders ML, Lyness JM, Eberly S, King DA, Caine ED.

American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 2006; 14: 145-152.

Depression, perceived family criticism, and functional status among older, primary-care patients.

Seaburn DB, Lyness JM, Eberly S, King DA

The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry.. 2005 September 13 (9):766-72. Epub 1900 01 01.

Bereavement in late life: risk factors for complicated bereavement.

Schum JL, Lyness JM, King DA

Geriatrics.. 2005 April 60 (4):18-20, 24. Epub 1900 01 01.

Assessment and psychological treatment of depression in older adults with terminal or life-threatening illness

King, D.A., *Heisel, M.J. & Lyness, J.M.

Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice. 2005; 12: 339-353.

Bereavement in late life: Risk factors for complicated bereavement

Schum, J.L., Lyness, J.M. & King, D.A.

Geriatrics. 2005; 60: 18-20.

Depression, perceived family criticism, and functional status among older primary care patients

Seaburn, D., Lyness, J.M., Eberly, S. & King, D.A.

American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 2005; 13: 766-72.

The emergence of "family integrity" in later life.

King DA, Wynne LC

Family process.. 2004 March 43 (1):7-21. Epub 1900 01 01.

Self-rated health, depression, and one-year health outcomes in older primary care patients

Lyness, J.M., King, D.A., Conwell, Y., Duberstein, P.R., Eberly, S., Sörensen, S.M., Caine, E.D.

American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 2004; 12(1): 110-113.

Social support, depression, and functional disability in older adult primary care patients

Travis, L.A., Lyness, J.M., Shields, C.G., King, D.A., & Cox, C.

American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 2004; 12: 265-271.

The emergence of "family integrity" in later-life

King, D.A. & Wynne, L.C.

Family Process. 2004; 43: 7-21.

Self-rated health, depression, and one-year health outcomes in older primary care patients.

Lyness JM, King DA, Conwell Y, Duberstein PR, Eberly S, Sörensen SM, Caine ED

The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry.. 2004 12 (1):110-3. Epub 1900 01 01.

Social support, depression, and functional disability in older adult primary-care patients.

Travis LA, Lyness JM, Shields CG, King DA, Cox C

The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry.. 2004 12 (3):265-71. Epub 1900 01 01.

Personality is associated with perceived health and functional status in older primary care patients.

Duberstein PR, Sörensen S, Lyness JM, King DA, Conwell Y, Seidlitz L, Caine ED

Psychology and aging.. 2003 March 18 (1):25-37. Epub 1900 01 01.

Personality is associated with perceived health and functional limitations in older primary care patients

Duberstein, P.R., Sorensen, S.M., Lyness, J.M., King, D.A., Conwell, Y., Seidlitz, L., & Caine, E.D.

Psychology and Aging. 2003; 18: 25-37.

A survey of group psychotherapy training during the predoctoral internship

Markus, H.E. & King, D.A.

Professional Psychology: Research and Practice. 2003; 34: 203-209.

Family and friends: A key aspect of older adults' adaptation to low vision?

Travis, L.A., Lyness, J.M., Sterns, G.W., Kuchmek, M., Shields, C.G., King, D.A., Sterns, S., & Northrup, L.

Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness. 2003; : 489-492.

Depressive disorders and symptoms in older primary care patients: One-year outcomes

Lyness, J.M., Caine, E.D., King, D.A., Conwell, Y., Duberstein, P.R., Cox, C.

American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 2002; 10: 275-282.

Depressive disorders and symptoms in older primary care patients: one-year outcomes.

Lyness JM, Caine ED, King DA, Conwell Y, Duberstein PR, Cox C

The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry.. 2002 10 (3):275-82. Epub 1900 01 01.

Depression and self-reported functional status in older primary care patients

Sinclair, P.A., Lyness, J.M., King, D.A., Cox, C. & Caine, E.D.

American Journal of Psychiatry. 2001; 158: 416-419.

Personality traits of women with histories of childhood sexual abuse

Talbot, N.L., Duberstein, P.R., King, D.A., Cox, C. & Giles, D.E.

Comprehensive Psychiatry. 2000; 41: 130-136.

). A neuropsychological comparison of depressed suicide attempts and non-attempters

King, D.A., Conwell, Y., Cox, C., *Henderson, R., Denning, D. & Caine, E.D.

Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences. 2000; 12: 64-70.

Method choice, intent and gender in completed suicide

Denning, D.E., Conwell, Y., King, D.A. & Cox, C.

Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior. 2000; 30: 282-288.

Cerebrovascular risk factors and 1-year depression outcome in older primary care patients

Lyness, J.M., King, D.A., Conwell, Y., Cox, C. & Caine, E.D.

. American Journal of Psychiatry. 2000; 157: 1499-1501.

Family matters: A social systems perspective on physician-assisted suicide

King, D.A., Conwell, Y. & Kim, S.

Psychology, Public Policy and Law. 2000; 6: 434-451.

Cerebrovascular risk factors and depression in older primary care patients

Lyness, J.M., Caine, E.D., King, D.A., Conwell, Y., Cox, C. & Duberstein, P.R.

American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 1999; 7: 252-258.

Psychiatric disorders in older primary care patients

Lyness, J.M., Caine, E.D., King, D.A., Cox, C. & Yoediono, Z.

Journal of General Internal Medicine. 1999; 14: 249-254.

The importance of subsyndromal depression in older primary care patients: Prevalence and associated functional disability

Lyness, J,M., King, D.A., Cox, C., Yoediono, Z. & Caine, E.D.

Journal of the American Geriatric Society. 1999; 47: 647-652.

Quantitative and qualitative differences in the verbal learning of elderly depressives and healthy controls

King, D.A., Cox, C., Lyness, J.M., Conwell, Y. & Caine, E.D.

Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society. 1998; 4: 115-126.

Cerebrovascular risk factors and later-life major depression: Testing a small vessel brain disease model of pathogenesis

Lyness, J.M., Caine, E.D., Cox, C., King, D.A., Conwell, Y. & Olivares, T.

American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 1998; 6: 5-13.

Medical illness burden, trait neuroticism, and depression in older primary care patients

Lyness, J.M., Duberstein, P.R., King, D.A., Cox, C. & Caine, E.D.

American Journal of Psychiatry. 1998; 155: 969-971.

Screening for depression in primary care elderly. A comparison of the CES-D and the GDS.

Lyness, J.M., Noel, T.K., Cox, C., King, D.A., Conwell, Y., & Caine, E.D.

Archives of Internal Medicine. 1997; 157: 449-453.

Ruminative thinking in older inpatients with major depression

Lyness, J.M., Conwell, Y., King, D.A., Cox, C., & Caine, E.D.

Journal of Affective Disorders. 1997; 46: 273-277.

The neuropsychological effects of depression and age in an elderly sample: A confirmatory study

King, D.A., Cox, C., Lyness, J.M., Caine, E.D.

Neuropsychology. 1995; 9: 399-408.

Older age and the underreporting of depressive symptoms

Lyness, J.M., Cox, C., Curry, J., Conwell, Y., King, D.A., Caine, E.D.

Journal of the American Geriatric Society. 1995; 43: 216-221.

Reconsidering depression in the elderly

Caine, E.D., *Lyness, J.M., King, D.A.

American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry,. 1993; 1: 4-20.

Influence of age and depression on selected cognitive functions

King, D.A., Caine, E.D., Cox, C.

The Clinical Neuropsychologist. 1993; 7: 443-453.

Depressive symptoms, medical illness, and functional status

Lyness, J.M., Caine, E.D., Conwell, Y., King, D.A., Cox, C.

American Journal of Psychiatry. 1993; 150: 910-915.

"Somatic worry" and medical illness in depressed inpatients

Lyness, J.M., King, D.A., Conwell, Y., Cox, C., Caine, E.D.

American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 1993; 1: 288-295.

Families of cognitively impaired elders: Helping adult children confront the filial crisis

King, D.A., Bonacci, D.D., Wynne, L.C.

Clinical Gerontologist. 1991; 10: 3-15.

Predicting the severity of depression in the elderly at six-month follow-up: A neuropsychological study

King, D.A., Caine, E.D., Conwell, Y., Cox C.

ournal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences. 1991; 3: 64-66.

The neuropsychology of depression in the elderly: A comparative study with normal aging and Alzheimer's disease

King, D.A., Caine, E.D., Conwell, Y., Cox, C.

Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences. 1991; 3: 163-168.

Depression and the response of others: A re-evaluation

King, D.A., Heller, K.

Journal of Abnormal Psychology. 1984; 92: 477-480.

Stimulus and response contingencies in the misbehavior of rats

Timberlake, W., Wahl, G., King, D.A.

Journal of Experimental Psychology. 1982; 8: 62-85.

Sex differences in subclinical depression: Administration of the Beck Depression Inventory in public and private disclosure situations

King, D.A., Buchwald A.M.

Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 1982; 42: 963-969.

The assessment of elder abuse. In P. Lichtenberg (Ed.)

Santos, E.J.; King, D.A.

The Hnadbook of Assessment in Clinical Gerontology. Elsevier. .

Spirituality attenuates the association between depression symptom severity and meaning in life. Aging & Mental Health.

Bamonti, P.M., Lombardi, S., Duberstein, P.R. King, D.A., & Van Orden, K.A. (in press).

Books

The Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry (2009)

Chapter: Family Intervention and therapy with older adults

Authors: King, D.A., Shields, C.G., & Podgorski, C.A.

Publisher: Lippincott, Williams & Williams, Philadelphia 2009

American Psychological Association, Presidential Task Force on Integrated Health (2008)

Chapter: Interdisciplinary collaboration in diverse sites of care

Authors: King, D.A., *Funderburk, J.S., & Conwell, Y.

Publisher: American Psychological Association, Washington, D.C. 2008

Supporting the Caregiver in Dementia: A Guide for Health Care Professionals (2006)

Chapter: Care of the caregiver: Individual and family interventions

Authors: Sorensen, S., King, D.A., & Pinquart, M.

Publisher: John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore 2006

The Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry (2005)

Chapter: Family Intervention and therapy with older adults

Authors: King, D.A., Shields, C.G., & Wynne, L.C.

Publisher: Lippincott, Williams & Williams, Philadelphia 2005

A Casebook for Integrating Family Therapy (2001)

Chapter: The case of the "expendable" elder: Family therapy with a depressed older man

Authors: King, D.A.

Publisher: American Psychological Association Publications, Washington 2001

The Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry (2000)

Chapter: Intervention and consultation with families of older adults

Authors: King, D.A., Shields, C.G. & Wynne, L.C.

Publisher: Lippincott, Williams & Williams, Philadelphia 2000

Psychopathology in Later Adulthood (2000)

Chapter: Mood disorders in older adults

Authors: King, D.A. & *Markus, H.E.

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, New York 2000

The Shared Experience of Illness: Stories of Patients, Families, and Their Ther (1997)

Chapter: "He's sick but I'm the one who hurts": Our work with a medically ill older couple

Authors: *Basler, S.C. & King, D.A.

Publisher: Basic Books, New York 1997

Neuropsychological Assessment of Neuropsychiatric Disorders (1996)

Chapter: Cognitive impairment and major depression: Beyond the pseudodementia syndrome

Authors: King, D.A. & Caine, E.D

Publisher: Oxford University Press, New York 1996

Family Psychology and Systems Therapy: A Handbook (1995)

Chapter: Interventions with later-life families

Authors: Shields, C.G., King, D.A. & Wynne, L.C.

Publisher: American Psychological Association Publications, Washington D.C. 1995

Diagnosis and treatment of depression in late-life: Results of the NIH Consensu (1994)

Chapter: Clinical and etiological heterogeneity of mood disorders in elderly patients

Authors: Caine, E.D., Lyness, J.M., King, D.A., Connors, B.A.

Publisher: American Psychiatric Press, Washington, D.C. 1994

Subcortical Dementia (1990)

Chapter: Depression

Authors: King, D.A. and Caine, E.D.

Publisher: Oxford University Press, New York 1990