Cynthia Battle Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior (Research)

Dr. Battle is a clinical psychologist and Associate Professor (Research) in Alpert Medical School's Department of Psychiatry & Human Behavior. She received her bachelors degree from Vassar College, and her masters and doctoral degrees from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She initially came to Brown to complete her predoctoral internship and continued her training by pursuing a NIMH postdoctoral fellowship focused on treatment development research. She has served as principal investigator or co-investigator on numerous NIH research grants focused on mood disorders among perinatal women and other populations. Her work is based at both Butler and Women & Infants' Hospitals.

Brown Affiliations

Research Areas

scholarly work

Salisbury, A.L., O’Grady, K.E., Battle, C.L., Wisner, K.L., Anderson, G.M., Stroud, L.R., Miller-Loncar, C.L., Young, M.E., & Lester, B.M. (In press). The roles of maternal depression, serotonin inhibitor treatment and concomitant benzodiazepine use on infant neurobehavioral functioning over the first month. American Journal of Psychiatry.

Battle, C.L., Uebelacker, L.A., Magee, S.R., Sutton, K.A., Miller, I.W. (2015). Potential for prenatal yoga to serve as an intervention to treat depression during pregnancy. Women's Health Issues, 25 (2), 134-141.

Uebelacker, L. A., Battle, C. L., Sutton, K. A., Magee, S. R., & Miller, I. W. (2015). A pilot randomized controlled trial comparing prenatal yoga to perinatal health education for antenatal depression. Arch Womens Ment Health; doi: 10.1007/s00737-015-0571-7

Sockol, L.E., Battle, C.L. (2015). Maternal attitudes, depression, and anxiety in pregnant and postpartum multiparous women.  Archives of Women's Mental Health, 18 (4), 585-593. 

Wenze, S.J., Battle, C.L. & Tezanos, K (2015).  Raising multiples: Mental health of mothers and fathers in early parenthood. Archives of Women's Mental Health, 18 (2), 163-176.

Battle, C. L., Abrantes, A. M., Schofield, C. A. & Kraines, M. A. (2014). Rationale for a pedometer-based walking intervention for women with depression during pregnancy. Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health. doi: 10.1111/jmwh.12271

Magee, S. R., Battle, C.L., Nothnagle, M., Morton, J., McCleary, (2014).  Promotion of family-centered birth with gentle cesarean delivery. The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, 27 (5), 690-693.

Battle, C. L. & Howard, M. (2014). A mother-baby psychiatric day hospital: History, rationale, and why perinatal mental health is important for obstetric medicine. Journal of Obstetric Medicine, 7 (2) 66-70.

Schofield, C.A., Battle, C. L., Howard, M., & Ortiz-Hernandez, S. (2014). Symptoms of the anxiety disorders in a perinatal psychiatric sample: A chart review. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 202 (2), pp 154-60.

Battle, C.L. Weinstock, L.M., & Howard, M. (2014). Clinical correlates of perinatal bipolar disorder in an interdisciplinary obstetrical hospital setting. Journal of Affective Disorders, 158, pp 97-100.

Sockol, L. Battle. C. L., Howard, M. & Davis, T. (2014). Correlates of impaired mother-infant bonding in a partial hospital program for perinatal Women. Archives of Women’s Mental Health. March 19 [ePub ahead of print].

Battle, C. L., Greer, J., Ortiz-Hernandez, S. & Todd, D. M. (2013). Developing and implementing a bereavement support program for college students. Death Studies, 37 (4), pp. 362-382.

Battle, C.L. & Salisbury, A.L., Schofield, C.A., & Ortiz-Hernandez, S. (2013). Perinatal antidepressant use: Understanding women's preferences and concerns. Journal of Psychiatric Practice, 19, pp. 443-453.

Cardemil, E.V., & Battle, C.L. (2012). Psychotherapy in the 21st century: Working with multicultural populations. [Review of the book: Multicultural care: A clinician's guide to cultural competence by L. Comas-Diaz]. PsycCRITIQUES, 57 (36).

Battle, C.L., Uebelacker, L.A. & Magee, S.R. (2012). Patient-centered care for antenatal depression. [Letter to the editor]. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 207 (5), e10-1.

McFarland, J. B., Salisbury, A.L., Battle, C.L., Halleran, K., Hawes, K., Lester, B. (2011). Major depressive disorder during pregnancy and emotional attachment to the fetus. Archives of Women's Mental Health, 14 (5), pp. 425-434.

Abrantes, A. M., Battle, C. L., Strong, D. R., Ing, E., Dubreill, M. E., Gordon, A., Brown, R. A. (2011). Exercise Preferences of Patients in Substance Abuse Treatment. Mental Health and Physical Activity, 4 (2), pp 79-87.

Salisbury, A.L., Wisner, K., Pearlstein, T.B., Battle, C.L., Stroud, L.R., Lester, B. (2011) Newborn neurobehavioral patterns are differentially related to prenatal maternal major depressive disorder and serotonin reuptake inhibitor treatment. Depression and Anxiety, 28 (11), pp 1008-1019.

Battle, C. L., Uebelacker, L. A., Friedman, M.A., Cardemil, E.V., Beevers, C.G., Miller, I. W. (2010). Treatment goals of depressed outpatients: A qualitative investigation of goals identified by participants in a depression treatment trial. Journal of Psychiatric Practice, 16, 425-430.

Battle, C. L. & Salisbury, A. L. (2010). Treatment of antenatal depression. [Letter]. Journal of Midwifery and Women's Health, 55, p. 479.

Powers, S. I., Battle, C. L., Pollack-Dorta, K., Wright, V. & Welch, D. (2010). Adolescent conflict and submission behaviors with mothers predict adolescent girls' current and future internalizing problems. Research in Human Development, 7, 257-273.

Battle, C. L., Uebelacker, L. A., Howard, M., & *Castaneda, M. (2010). Prenatal yoga and depression during pregnancy. Birth: Issues in Perinatal Care, 37, 353-354.

Uebelacker, L. A., Epstein-Lubow, G., Gaudiano, B., Tremont, G. Battle, C. L., Miller, I. W. (2010). Hatha yoga for depression: Critical review of the evidence for efficacy, plausible mechanisms of action, and directions for future research. Journal of Psychiatric Practice, 16 (1), 22-33.

Stroud, L.R., Paster, R.L., Papndonatos, G.D., Niaura, R., Salisbury, A.L., Battle, C. L., Lagasse, L. L., & Lester, B. (2009). Maternal smoking during pregnancy and newborn neurobehavior: Effects at 10-27 days. The Journal of Pediatrics, 154 (1), 4-5.

Uebelacker, L.A., Battle, C.L., Friedman, M.A., Cardemil, E.V., Beevers, C.G., Miller, I.W. (2008). The importance of interpersonal treatment goals to depressed inpatients. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. 196, 217-222.

Battle, C.L., Zlotnick, C., Pearlstein, T., Miller, I.W., Howard, M., Salisbury, A.L. & Stroud, L. (2008). Depression and breastfeeding: Which postpartum patients take antidepressant medications? Depression and Anxiety 25, 888-891.

Pearlstein, T., Zlotnick, C., Battle, C.L., Stuart, S., O'Hara, M.W., Price, A.B., Grause, A., Howard, M. (2006). Selection of treatment modality for postpartum depression. Archives of Women's Mental Health, 9, 303-308.

Battle, C.L., Zlotnick, C., Miller, I.W., Pearlstein, T., Howard, M. (2006). Clinical characteristics of perinatal psychiatric patients: A chart review study. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 194, 369-377.

Howard, M., Battle, C.L., Pearlstein, T., & Rosene-Montella, K. (2006). A psychiatric mother-baby day hospital for pregnant and postpartum women. Archives of Women's Mental Health, 9, 213-218.

Battle, C.L. & Zlotnick, C. (2005). Prevention of postpartum depression. Psychiatric Annals, 35, 590-598

Battle, C.L, & Miller, I.W. (2005). Families and forgiveness. In Worthington, E. L. (Ed). Handbook of Forgiveness. New York: Brunner/Routledge.

Battle, C.L., Shea, M.T., Johnson, D.M., Yen, S., Zlotnick, C., Zanarini, M.C., Sanislow, C.A., Skodol, A.E., Gunderson, J.G., Grilo, C.M., McGlashan, T.H., & Morey, L.C. (2004). Childhood maltreatment associated with adult personality disorders: Findings from the Collaborative Longitudinal Study of Personality Disorders. Journal of Personality Disorders, 18, 193-211.

Cardemil, E.V. & Battle, C.L. (2003). Guess who's coming to therapy? Getting comfortable with conversations about race and ethnicity in psychotherapy. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 34 (3), 278-286.

research overview

Cynthia Battle, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist whose research focuses on mood disorders and women’s mental health, including development of novel behavioral interventions for mood disorders during the perinatal period. Her current studies include (1) an RCT examining the efficacy of a physical activity intervention for women with antenatal depression, and (2) a mixed methods study to examine treatment decision-making among women with perinatal bipolar disorder, and (3) and RCT testing prenatal yoga vs. a mother-baby wellness workshop as an intervention for depression during pregnancy. A major goal of her research has been to develop more accessible and acceptable interventions for women who experience emotional distress during the perinatal period.

research statement

Cynthia Battle's research is focused upon women's mental health during pregnancy and the postpartum period, with particular emphasis on developing and evaluating novel behavioral interventions for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Dr. Battle's current NIH-funded studies include the investigations that focus on the following topics:  (1) evaluation of a physical activity intervention for pregnant women with antenatal depression; (2) examination of treatment decision-making among women with perinatal bipolar disorder; (3) developing and evaluating a prenatal yoga intervention for antenatal depression. In addition,  In addition Dr. Battle serves as a collaborator on several other studies related to mood disorder treatment and perinatal mental health. 

funded research

CURRENT RESEARCH SUPPORT
 

National Institute on Child Health and Human Development, R01HD081868 (Battle), 2015-2010, "Efficacy of a Prenatal Yoga Intervention for Antenatal Depression" Role: Principal Investigator

National Institutes of Health Office of the Director & National Institute of Nursing Research, 1R01NR014540; (Battle & Salisbury), 2014-2019, "RCT of a Tailored Walking Program to Reduce Stress Among Pregnant Women"   Role: Principal Investigator

National Institute of Mental Health, R34MH102466 (Weinstock), 2014-2017, "Adjunctive Psychotherapy for Perinatal Bipolar Disorder"  Role: Co-Investigator/ PI of Subcontract.

National Institute of Mental Health, R34MH103570 (Battle & Weinstock), 2014-2017, "Treatment Decisions for Perinatal Bipolar Disorder"  Role:  Principal Investigator

National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, R34AA024038 (Abrantes ) 2015-2018, "Technology Supported Physical Activity Intervention for Depressed Alcoholic Women" Role: Co-Investigator  

National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, R56HL127695 (Abrantes & Uebelacker) 2015-2016, "Initiating and Maintaining Physical Activity in Depressed Individuals" Role: Co-Investigator

COMPLETED RESEARCH SUPPORT

National Institute of Mental Health, R34MH79108 (Battle); 2007-2012; "Treatment-Seeking for Depression Among Pregnant Women"
Role: Principal Investigator

National Institute of Mental Health R34MH083065 (Battle); 2008-2013; "Development of a Home-Based Family Treatment for Postpartum Depression"
Role: Principal Investigator

National Institute of Mental Health R01 MH079153 (Stroud) 9/01/2007-6/30/2012 "Maternal Depression, Placental HPA Regulation, & Fetal-Neonatal Stress Response"
Role: Co-Investigator; Site Principal Investigator

National Institute of Mental Health R01MH078033 (Salisbury) 2/01/2008-1/31/2013 "Fetal and Neonatal Response to Prenatal Antidepressant Exposure"
Role: Co-Investigator; Site Principal Investigator

National Institute of Mental Health, (R34 MH085053; PI: Battle); 2010-2014. "Development of a Yoga Intervention for Antenatal Depression"
Role: Principal Investigator

Women & Infants' Hospital Center of Excellence in Women's Health Seed Grant (Battle); 2011-2012; "An Open Trial of a Physical Activity Intervention for Depressed Pregnant Women"
Role: Principal Investigator

National Instituate of Mental Health. (3R01MH074636-04S1; Stuart) 2011-2012 "Placebo-Controlled Trial of Sertraline and IPT for Postpartum Depression." Role: Consultant.

National Institute of Mental Health K23MH066402 (Battle) 9/23/2002-9/30/2008 "Family Treatment for Postpartum Depression"
Role: Principal Investigator