Dr. Alethea Desrosiers is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at Brown University and a faculty member in the Brown Research on Implementation and Dissemination to Guide Evidence Use (BRIDGE) Program. Her work focuses on implementation science in the global mental health context. Dr. Desrosiers earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Columbia University, Teachers College. She also completed a T32 Postdoctoral Fellowship in Substance Abuse Prevention Research at Yale School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry.
Dr. Desrosiers is the PI of a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) funded R01 hybrid implementation-effectiveness trial to investigate implementation of an evidence-based mental health intervention delivered by teachers in Sierra Leone’s secondary schools and an NIMH funded R34 to evaluate a digital platform for suicide prevention among youth in Colombia. She also leads a Hilton Foundation award to evaluate a mental health intervention delivered within entrepreneurship training to forcibly displaced Colombian and Venezuelan migrant youth in Colombia. Her work applies user-centered design and task-sharing approaches to improve delivery quality of evidence-based interventions for vulnerable populations of youth and families globally.
| Desrosiers A, Freeman J, Mitra R, Bond L, Santo LD, Farrar J, Borg R, Jambai M, Betancourt TS. "Alternative Delivery Platforms for Expanding Evidence-based Mental Health Interventions for Youth in Sierra Leone: A Pilot Study." Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies, vol. 18, no. 1, 2023, pp. 131-142. |
| Black CJ, Berent JM, Joshi U, Khan A, Chamlagai L, Shrivastava R, Gautam B, Negeye A, Iftin AN, Ali H, Desrosiers A, Bhan A, Bhattacharya S, Naslund JA, Betancourt TS. "Applying Human-Centered Design in Global Mental Health to Improve Reach Among Underserved Populations in the United States and India." Global health, science and practice, vol. 11, no. 1, 2023. |
| Desrosiers, Alethea, Bond, Laura, Hoffman, Morgan, Kumar, Praveen, Schafer, Carolyn, Metzger, Isha W., Vandi, Alpha, Hinton, Miriam, Betancourt, Theresa S. "Exploring Naturalistic Diffusion of an Evidence-Based Mental Health Intervention across Peer Networks of Youth in Sierra Leone." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 20, no. 5, 2023, pp. 4059. |
| Callands, Tamora A., Hylick, Kandyce, Desrosiers, Alethea, Gilliam, Shantesica M., Taylor, Erica N., Hunter, Josalin J., Hansen, Nathan B. "The feasibility and acceptability of Project POWER: a mindfulness-infused, cognitive-behavioral group intervention to address mental and sexual health needs of young pregnant women in Liberia." BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, vol. 23, no. 1, 2023. |
| Desrosiers, A., Freeman, J., Mitra, R., Farrar, J., Borg, R., & Betancourt, T. S. "Alternative delivery platforms for expanding evidence-based mental health interventions for youth in Sierra Leone: A pilot study." Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies, 2022. |
| Su S, Frounfelker RL, Desrosiers A, Brennan RT, Farrar J, Betancourt TS. "Classifying childhood war trauma exposure: latent profile analyses of Sierra Leone's former child soldiers." Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, vol. 62, no. 6, 2021, pp. 751-761. |
| Desrosiers A, Schafer C, Esliker R, Jambai M, Betancourt TS. "Correction: mHealth-Supported Delivery of an Evidence-Based Family Home-Visiting Intervention in Sierra Leone: Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial." JMIR Research Protocols, vol. 10, no. 3, 2021, pp. e28359. |
| Desrosiers A, Schafer C, Esliker R, Jambai M, Betancourt TS. "Correction: mHealth-Supported Delivery of an Evidence-Based Family Home-Visiting Intervention in Sierra Leone: Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial." JMIR Research Protocols, vol. 10, no. 2, 2021, pp. e27711. |
| Cornelius, T., Desrosiers, A., & Kershaw, T. "Emergency Medical Care Utilization, Romantic Attachment, and Psychological Distress in Pregnant Adolescent and Young Adult Couples." Family Systems and Health, vol. 39, no. 2, 2021, pp. 336-344. |
| Desrosiers, A., Schafer, C., Esliker, R., Jambai, M., & Betancourt, T.S. "mHealth tools to improve supervision and fidelity monitoring of a family home visiting intervention in Sierra Leone: Study protocol." Journal of Medical Internet Research, vol. 10, no. 2, 2021, pp. e25443. |
| Moya, A., Serneels, P., Desrosiers, A., & Reyes, V., Torres, M. J., & Lieberman, A. "The impact of COVID-19 on mental health in a fragile and conflict-affected setting: A Longitudinal Case-Control Study in Tumaco, Colombia." The Lancet, vol. 9, no. 8, 2021, pp. e1068-e1076. |
| Betancourt, T.S., Hansen, N., Farrar, J, Borg, R.C., Brennan, R.T., Callands, T., Desrosiers, A., Antonaccio, C.M., Williams, M.J. "Youth Functioning and Organizational Success for West African Regional Development (Youth FORWARD): Study Protocol." Psychiatric Services, vol. 72, 2021, pp. 563-580. |
| Desrosiers, A., Betancourt, T., Kergoat, Y., Servilli, C., Say, L., Kobeissi, L. "A systematic review of sexual and reproductive health interventions for young people in humanitarian and lower-and-middle-income country settings." BMC Public Health, vol. 20, 2020, pp. 666. |
| Desrosiers A, Betancourt T, Kergoat Y, Servilli C, Say L, Kobeissi L. "A systematic review of sexual and reproductive health interventions for young people in humanitarian and lower-and-middle-income country settings." BMC Public Health, vol. 20, no. 1, 2020, pp. 666. |
| Su, S., Frounfelker, R. L., Desrosiers, A., Brennan R.T., Farrar, J., & Betancourt, T. S. "Classifying childhood war trauma exposure: Latent profile analyses of Sierra Leone’s former child soldiers." The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, vol. 62, 2020, pp. 751-761. |
| Desrosiers, A., Kumar, P., Dayal, A., Alex, L., Akram, T., Betancourt, T. "Diffusion and spillover effects of an evidence-based mental health intervention among peers and caregivers of high risk youth in Sierra Leone: Study protocol." BMC Psychiatry, vol. 20, 2020, pp. 85. |
| Desrosiers A, Kumar P, Dayal A, Alex L, Akram A, Betancourt T. "Diffusion and spillover effects of an evidence-based mental health intervention among peers and caregivers of high risk youth in Sierra Leone: study protocol." BMC Psychiatry, vol. 20, no. 1, 2020, pp. 85. |
| Lauckner C, Desrosiers A, Muilenburg J, Killanin A, Genter E, Kershaw T. "Social media photos of substance use and their relationship to attitudes and behaviors among ethnic and racial minority emerging adult men living in low-income areas." Journal of Adolescence, vol. 77, 2019, pp. 152-162. |
| Lauckner, C., Desrosiers, A., Muilenburg, J., Kilanin, A., Genter, E., & Kershaw, T. "Social media photos of substance use and their relationship to attitudes and behaviors among minority emerging adult men." Journal of Adolescence, vol. 77, 2019, pp. 152-162. |
| Desrosiers, A., Vine, V., & Kershaw, T. "R U Mad?”: Computerized text analysis of affect in social media relates to stress and substance use among emerging adult, ethnic minority males." Anxiety, Stress and Coping, vol. 32, 2019, pp. 109-123. |
| Rizor A, Callands T, Desrosiers A, Kershaw T. "(S)He's Gotta Have It: Emotion Regulation, Emotional Expression, and Sexual Risk Behavior in Emerging Adult Couples." Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity, vol. 24, no. 3, 2017, pp. 203-216. |
| Rizor, A., Callands, T., Desrosiers, A., & Kershaw, T. "(S)He’s gotta have it: Emotion regulation, emotional expression, and sexual risk behavior in emerging adult couples." Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity, vol. 24, 2017, pp. 203-216. |
| Chooi, W., Desrosiers, A., Zaharim, N., Ahmad, I., Yasin, M., Jaaper, S., Schottenfeld, R., Vicknasingam, B., & Chawarski, M. "Early initiation of amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) use associated with lowered cognitive performance among individuals with co-occurring opioid and ATS use disorders in Malaysia." Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, vol. 49, 2017, pp. 326-332. |
| Cornelius, T., Desrosiers, A., & Kershaw, T. "Smoking together during pregnancy: Are there relationship benefits?." Social Science and Medicine, vol. 192, 2017, pp. 30-35. |
| Desrosiers, A., Chooi, W., Zaharim, N., Ahmad, I., Yasin, A., Jaapar, S., Schottenfeld, R., Vicknasingam, B., Chawarski, M. "Emerging drug use trends in Kelantan, Malaysia." Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, vol. 48, 2016, pp. 208-216. |
| Sipsma, H., Callands, T., Desrosiers, A., Magriples, M., Jones, K., Albritton, T., & Kershaw, T. "Exploring trajectories and predictors of depressive symptoms among young couples during their transition to parenthood." Maternal and Child Health Journal, vol. 20, 2016, pp. 2372-2381. |
| Sipsma HL, Callands T, Desrosiers A, Magriples U, Jones K, Albritton T, Kershaw T. "Exploring Trajectories and Predictors of Depressive Symptoms Among Young Couples During Their Transition to Parenthood." Maternal and Child Health Journal, vol. 20, no. 11, 2016, pp. 2372-2381. |
| Desrosiers, A., Blokhina, E., Zvartua, E., Krupitsky, E., Schottenfeld, R., & Chawarski, M. "Psychiatric symptoms, quality of life, and HIV status among people using opioids in Saint Petersburg, Russia." Drug and Alcohol Dependence, vol. 172, 2016, pp. 60-65. |
| Cornelius, T., Desrosiers, A., & Kershaw, T. "Spread of health behaviors in young couples: How relationship power shapes relational influence." Social Science and Medicine, vol. 165, 2016, pp. 46-55. |
| Desrosiers, A., Sipsma, H., Kershaw, T., Divney, A., & Magriples, U. "Emotion expression and substance use in newly parenting adolescents and young adults." Journal of Clinical Psychology, vol. 71, 2015, pp. 684-695. |
| Desrosiers, A., Thompson, A., Divney, A., Magriples, A., & Kershaw, T. "Romantic partner influences on substance use among pregnant and parenting young couples." Journal of Public Health, vol. 38, 2015, pp. 300-307. |
| Desrosiers A, Sipsma H, Callands T, Hansen N, Divney A, Magriples U, Kershaw T. "Love hurts": romantic attachment and depressive symptoms in pregnant adolescent and young adult couples." Journal of Clinical Psychology, vol. 70, no. 1, 2014, pp. 95-106. |
| Zhou, W., Wang, X., Zhou, S., Xie, N., Liu, P., Luo, L., Peng, J., Liu, M., Desrosiers, A., Schottenfeld, R., Chawarski, M. "Hepatitis C seroconversion in methadone maintenance treatment programs in Wuhan, China." Addiction, vol. 110, 2014, pp. 796-802. |
| Desrosiers, A., Vine, V., Curtiss, J., & Klemanski, D. "Observing Nonreactively: A conditional process model linking mindfulness facets, cognitive emotion regulation strategies, and depression and anxiety symptoms." Journal of affective disorders, vol. 165, 2014, pp. 31-37. |
| Zhang, Y., Xu, Z., Zhang, S., Desrosiers, A., Schottenfeld, R. S., Chawarski, M. "Profiles of psychiatric symptoms among amphetamine type stimulant and ketamine using inpatients in Wuhan, China." Journal of Psychiatric Research, vol. 53, 2014, pp. 99-102. |
| Desrosiers, A., Sipsma, H., Callands, T., Hansen, N., Divney, A., Magriples, U., & Kershaw, T. "Love Hurts”: Romantic attachment and depressive symptoms in pregnant adolescent and young adult couples." Journal of Clinical Psychology, vol. 70, 2014, pp. 95-106. |
| Desrosiers, A., Klemanski, D., & Nolen-Hoeksema, S. "Mapping mindfulness facets onto dimensions of anxiety and depression." Behavior Therapy, vol. 44, 2013, pp. 373-384. |
| Desrosiers, A., Vine, V., Klemanski, D., & Nolen-Hoeksema, S. "Mindfulness and emotion regulation in depression and anxiety: Common and distinct mechanisms of action." Depression and Anxiety, vol. 30, 2013, pp. 654-661. |
| Nolen-Hoeksema, S., Desrosiers, A., & Wilsnack, S. C. "Predictors of alcohol-related problems among depressed and non-depressed women." Journal of affective disorders, vol. 150, 2013, pp. 967-973. |
| Marsch, L. A., Grabinski, M. J., Bickel, W. K., Desrosiers, A., Guarino, H., Muehlbach, B., Solhkhah, R., Taufique, S., & Acosta, M. "Computer-assisted HIV prevention for youth with substance use disorders." Substance use and Misuse, vol. 46, 2011, pp. 46-56. |
| Desrosiers, A., Kelly, B., & Miller, L. "Parent and peer facilitation of relational spirituality in adolescents and young adults." Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, vol. 3, 2010, pp. 39-54. |
| Desrosiers, A. & Miller, L. "Substance use versus anxiety in adolescents: Are some disorders more spiritual than others?." Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion, vol. 9, 2008, pp. 137-154. |
| Desrosiers, A. & Miller, L. "Relational spirituality and depression in adolescent girls." Journal of Clinical Psychology, vol. 63, 2007, pp. 1021-1037. |
| Year | Degree | Institution |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | PhD | Columbia University |
| 2007 | MSc | Columbia University |
| 2004 | MA | Columbia University |
| 2001 | BA | McDaniel College |
| T32 Postdoctoral Fellow | Yale School of Medicine, Psychiatry | 2011-2012 | New Haven, CT |
Psychiatry and Human Behavior; Social and Behavioral Sciences; Global Health Initiative
