Christopher Kahler
Professor and Chair:
Behavior and Social Sciences, Public Health Program
Phone: +1 401 863 6651
Christopher_Kahler@Brown.EDU
My work has focused (a) the contribution of personality, psychiatric conditions, and emotional processes to the causes and treatment of alcohol and tobacco addiction, (b) methods for assessing alcohol use, problems, and dependence, and (c) the etiology and treatment of the co-use of alcohol and tobacco. My most recent research examines the application of positive psychotherapy to smoking cessation and a brief alcohol intervention for HIV-infected heavy drinking men who have sex with men.
Biography
Brief Bio
Christopher W. Kahler, PhD-Professor (Research)
Dr. Kahler is Professor and Chair of the Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences in the Public Health Program at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. He received his Ph.D. in 1998 from Rutgers University and joined the Brown Medical School faculty that year. He is currently the Director of Biostatistics at the Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies. Dr. Kahler's work focuses on (a) the role of personality and emotion in heavy alcohol use and smoking, (b) the etiology and treatment of combined heavy drinking and smoking, and (c) the role of alcohol in the treatment of HIV infection. He is currently the Principal Investigator on an NIAAA-funded laboratory study on alcohol administration and smoking relapse risk, an NIAAA-funded randomized clinical trial of naltrexone for at-risk and problem drinkers seeking smoking cessation treatment, and an NCI-funded treatment development project to adapt Positive Psychotherapy for use in smoking cessation treatment with low positive affect smokers. He is also the Scientific Director of the NIAAA-funded Alcohol Research Center on HIV (ARCH) and is PI of a major research component evaluating a brief alcohol intervention in a primary care setting for HIV-infected men who have sex with men. His most recent publications focus on (a) alcohol use and smoking cessation, (b) hostility, depressive symptoms, sensation seeking and smoking cessation outcome, (c) the application of item response theory to measures of alcohol problems, and (d) personality, psychopathology and smoking.
Interests
Christopher Kahler's work has focused on three primary topics: (a) the contribution of personality, psychiatric conditions, and emotional processes to the causes and treatment of alcohol and tobacco addiction, (b) methods for assessing alcohol use, problems, and dependence, and (c) the etiology and treatment of the co-use of alcohol and tobacco. He has published extensively in these and other areas with over 140 peer-reviewed publications to date. His most recent publications focus on changes in depressive symptoms following smoking cessation, the measurement of alcohol use and problems, relations between smoking, personality and psychopathology, and the treatment of heavy alcohol use in the context of smoking cessation treatment. He is currently conducting an NIAAA-funded laboratory study that investigates cognitive, affective, and behavioral mechanisms through which alcohol, when consumed in the lab, contributes to difficulties in delaying smoking when delaying smoking is rewarded with money. He is also conducting a randomized clinical trial comparing naltrexone to placebo among at-risk and problem drinkers seeking smoking cessation treatment. The study tests the hypotheses that naltrexone, when added to nicotine patch and a smoking cessation treatment that incorporates a brief alcohol intervention, will result in a lower percentage of heavy drinking days and a greater odds of smoking abstinence compared to placebo. He is conducting a developmental trial to test the efficacy of incorporating positive psychotherapy into smoking cessation treatment. Finally, he is Scientific Director of the Alcohol Research Center on HIV, in which he is conducting a randomized clinical trial to test the effects of brief alcohol intervention on drinking and HIV-related outcomes among MSM in an HIV primary care clinic.
Degrees
PHD
Awards
Leon A. Greenberg Memorial Award: Center of Alcohol Studies, Rutgers University, 1998
Affiliations
American Psychological Association, 1993 - present
Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (formerly known as the Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy), 1993 - present
Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, 1999 – present
Research Society on Alcoholism, 2000-present
Teaching
Applied Multiple Regression Analysis for Behavioral Sciences
Multilevel Modeling for Behavioral Sciences
Comorbidity of Alcohol and Smoking
Alcoholics Anonymous and Other 12-Step Programs
Funded Research
CURRENT GRANTS
1. Principal Investigator
"Naltrexone for At-Risk and Problem Drinking in Smoking Cessation Treatment"
Agency: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Type: R01 (AA017181); Period: 6/20/09-3/31/14
Total direct costs: $2,000,805; Total indirect costs: $1,172,355
2. Principal Investigator
"Mechanisms Linking Alcohol Use and Smoking Relapse Risk"
Agency: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Type: R01 (AA016978); Period: 4/1/08-3/31/12
Total direct costs: $1,221,901; Total indirect costs: $720,021
3. Scientific Director and Research Component PI
"Alcohol and HIV: Biobehavioral Interactions and Intervention"
PI, Research Component 2: "Brief Alcohol Intervention for HIV-Infected MSM in a Primary Care Setting"
Principal Investigator: Peter Monti
Agency: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Type: P01 (AA019072); Period: 9/30/10-8/31/15
Total direct costs: $6,087,800; Total indirect costs: $1,305,707
4. Principal Investigator
"Development of Positive Psychotherapy for Smoking Cessation"
Agency: National Cancer Institute
Type: R01 (CA156241); Period: 1/1/11-12/31/12
Total direct costs: $403,281; Total indirect costs: $244,435
5. Co-Investigator
"Motivation and Skills for THC/ETOH+ Teens in Jail"
Principal Investigator: Lynda Stein, Ph.D.
Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
Type: R01 (DA018851); Period: 9/25/04-8/31/11
Total costs: $3,401,064
6. Mentor
"Integrated Smoking Cessation and Mood Management for Cardiac Patients"
Principal Investigator: Andrew Busch, Ph.D.
Agency: National Heart Lung and Blood Institute
Type: K23 (HL107391); Period 4/15/2011- 3/31/2016
Direct costs: $640,824
7. Co-Investigator
"Stepped Care for Mandated College Students"
Principal Investigator: Brian Borsari, Ph.D.
Agency: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Type: R01 (AA015518); Period: 6/1/05-5/31/11
Total direct costs: $1,025,000
8. Co-Investigator
"Adolescent Treatment and 12-Step Mutual Help Involvement"
Principal Investigator: John F. Kelly, Ph.D.
Agency: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Type: R01 (AA015526); Period: 4/10/06-4/30/11
Total direct costs: $900,000
9. Co-Investigator
"Brief intervention to reduce drinking and intimate partner violence in women"
Principal Investigator: Gregory L. Stuart, Ph.D.
Agency: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Type: R01 (AA016315); Period: 4/1/07-3/31/12
Total direct costs: $975,000
10. Co-Investigator
"Ecological Momentary Assessment of Adolescent Smoking Cessation"
Principal Investigator: Chad J. Gwaltney
Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
Type: R01 (DA021677); Period: 04/01/2007 - 03/31/12
Total direct costs: $1,125,000; Total indirect costs: $662,907
11. Co-Investigator
"Marijuana's Acute Effects on Risk Taking, Sexual/HIV Risk, and Impulsivity"
Principal Investigator: Jane Metrik
Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
Type: R01 (DA021403); Period: 06/01/2007 - 04/31/11
Total direct costs: $600,000; Total indirect costs: $353,750
12. Co-Investigator
"Development of Behavioral Couples Treatment for Smoking Cessation"
Principal Investigator: Heather LaChance
Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
Type: R01 (DA021265); Period: 8/15/07-5/31/11
Total direct costs: $600,000; Total indirect costs: $353,750
13. Co-Investigator
"Initiation and Progression through Early Drinking Milestones in Underage Drinkers"
Principal Investigator: Kristina Jackson
Agency: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Type: R01 (AA16838); Period: 9/1/08-8/31/13
Total costs: $3,675,000
14. Primary Mentor
"Affective and Genetic Correlates of Amphetamine Response"
Principal Investigator: Adam Leventhal
Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
Type: K08 (DA025041); Period: 8/1/09 - 7/31/14
Total costs: $789,918
15. Co-Investigator
"Mechanisms Linking Anhedonia and Tobacco Addiction"
Principal Investigator: Adam Leventhal
Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
Type: R01 (DA026831); Period: 8/15/09 - 5/31/12
Total costs: $1,217,709
16. Co-Investigator
"Genetic Variation and Marijuana's Pharmacologic and Cue-Elicited Effects"
Principal Investigator: Jane Metrik
Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
Type: R03 (DA027484); Period: 9/15/2009- 08/31/2011
Total direct costs: $300,000; Total indirect costs: $185,375
17. Co-Investigator
"Brief Alcohol Intervention for School-to-Work Transitions"
Principal Investigator: Suzanne Colby
Agency: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Type: R01 (AA016000); Period: 9/20/2009- 08/31/2011
Total direct costs: $710,797; Total indirect costs: $438,817
18. Co-Investigator
"New Approaches to Mediation Analysis using Causal Inference Methods"
Principal Investigator: Joseph Hogan
Agency: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Type: R01 (1RC1AA019186); Period: 9/30/2009- 08/31/2011
Total direct costs: $659,623; Total indirect costs: $281,145
19. Primary Mentor
"Contextual risk factors for substance use in adolescent Reservation-dwelling American Indians"
Principal Investigator: Nichea S. Spillane
Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
Type: K08 (DA029094-01); Period: 6/1/10 - 5/31/15
Total costs: $880,352
20. Co-Investigator
"Negative Affect, Urges and Distress Tolerance, Effects on Cognition in AUDs"
Principal Investigator: Travis Cook
Agency: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Type: R01 (AA018129); Period: 09/01/10-08/31/14
Total direct costs: $972,176; Total indirect costs: $571,129
21. Co-Investigator
"Brief Interventions in the Emergency Department for Alcohol and HIV/Sexual Risk"
Principal Investigator: Peter Monti
Agency: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Type: 2R01 AA009892; Period: 9/1/10-8/31/15
Total direct costs (year 1): $ $498,733; Total costs (year 1): $785,134
22. Co-Mentor
"Impact of Excessive Alcohol Use on HIV-associated Brain Dysfunction: A Diffusion and Functional MRI Study"
Principal Investigator: Wing Gongvatana
Agency: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Type: K99AA020235-01; Period: 3/1/11-2/28/16
COMPLETED GRANTS
1. Principal Investigator
"Improving Smoking Cessation Outcomes in Heavy Drinkers"
Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
Type: R01 (DA015534) Period: 8/15/03-4/30/08
Total direct costs: $1,111,032; Total indirect costs: $535,085
2. Principal Investigator
"Mechanisms Linking Hostility and Smoking"
Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
Type: R21 (DA019628) Period: 3/5/06-2/29/09
Total direct costs: $278,434; Total indirect costs: $157,618
3. Principal Investigator
Diversity Supplement for "Mechanisms Linking Alcohol Use and Smoking Relapse Risk"
Agency: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Type: R01 (AA016978-S1); Period: 7/25/08-12/31/10
Total direct costs: $141,322; Total indirect costs: $83,380
4. Co-Investigator
"Coping with Depression in Smoking Cessation"
Principal Investigator: Richard A. Brown, Ph.D.
Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
Type:R01 (DA08511); Period: 7/1/97 - 5/31/01
Total costs: $ 1,983,952
5. Co-Investigator
"Efficacy of Depression Skills Treatment with Alcoholics"
Principal Investigator: Richard A. Brown, Ph.D.
Agency: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Type:R01 (AA10958) Period: 7/1/97 – 6/30/01
Total costs: $1,886,845
6. Co-Investigator
"Nicotine Dependence: Risk and Recovery over Generations"
Principal Investigator: David B. Abrams, Ph.D.
Agency: National Cancer Institute
Type: P50 (CA84719); Period:10/1/99 – 9/30/04
Total costs: $11,582,454
7. Co-Investigator
"Biobehavioral Vulnerability to Early Smoking Relapse"
Principal Investigator: Richard A. Brown, Ph.D.
Agency: National Cancer Institute
Type: R23 (CA99014); Period: 9/1/00-8/31/02
Total costs: $362,500
8. Co-Investigator
"Applying Exercise Intervention to Drug Treatment"
Principal Investigator: Richard A. Brown, Ph.D.
Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
Type: RO1 (DA14599); Period 9/30/01 - 8/31/04
Total costs: $826,072
9. Co-Investigator
"Development of an Exercise Intervention for Alcoholics"
Principal Investigator: Richard A. Brown, Ph.D.
Agency: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Type: RO1 (AA13418); Period 3/01/02 - 2/28/05
Total costs: $618,6960
10. Co-Investigator
"Preventing Depression in MMT Patients on Interferon"
Principal Investigator: Susan E. Ramsey, Ph.D.
Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
Type: R01 (DA016797); Period: 9/1/03 - 6/30/06
Total costs: $911,684
11. Co-Investigator
"Mechanisms Relating Conduct Disorder and Drug Abuse"
Principal Investigator: Robert Miranda, Ph.D.
Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
Type: R21 (DA016904); Period: 9/1/03-8/30/06
Total direct costs: $300,000
12. Co-Investigator
"Distress Tolerance Treatment for Early Smoking Lapsers"
Principal Investigator: Richard A. Brown, Ph.D.
Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
Type: R01 (DA017332); Period: 9/1/03-8/30/06
Total costs: $1,095,000
13. Co-Investigator
"Treatment of Youth Alcohol Abuse and Suicidality"
Principal Investigator: Christianne Esposito-Smythers, Ph.D.
Agency: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Type: R01 (AA014191); Period: 4/15/04 - 10/31/07
Total direct costs: $750,000
14. Co-Investigator
"Effect of Mood on Impulsivity Among Adolescent Smokers"
Principal Investigator: Chad Gwaltney, Ph.D.
Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
Type: R21 (DA018942); Period: 10/1/04 - 9/30/06
Total direct costs: $275,000
15. Co-Investigator
"Brief Intervention to Reduce Drinking among Batterers"
Principal Investigator: Gregory L. Stuart, Ph.D.
Agency: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Type: R01 (AA014193); Period: 7/1/03-6/30/08
Total direct costs: $1,250,000
16. Co-Investigator
"MI for Teen Substance Abuse with Psychiatric Comorbidity"
Principal Investigator: Richard A. Brown, Ph.D.
Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
Type: R01 (DA016738); Period: 9/30/04 – 03/31/09
Total costs: $2,514,565
17. Co-Investigator
"Brief Alcohol Intervention with Depressed Patients"
Principal Investigator: Susan E. Ramsey, Ph.D.
Agency: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Type: R01 (AA013895); Period: 9/5/03-5/31/09
Total costs: $1,843,646
18. Co-Investigator
"Mood Management Phone Counseling in Smoking Cessation"
Principal Investigator: David R. Strong, Ph.D.
Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
Type: R01 (DA017947); Period: 5/20/05-4/30/09
Total direct costs: $750,000
19. Co-Investigator
"Smoking Versus Alternative Reinforcers in Adolescents"
Principal Investigator: Suzanne M. Colby, Ph.D.
Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
Type: R01 (DA016737); Period: 9/1/03-6/30/09
Total costs: $1,931,2580
20. Co-Investigator
"Naturalistic Influences on Alcohol Problems in College"
Principal Investigator: Nancy P. Barnett, Ph.D.
Agency: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Type: R01 (AA13970); Period: 9/1/03-8/30/10
Total costs: $3,044,348
21. Co-Investigator
"Nicotine Dependence: Phenotype, Endophenotype and Contexts"
Principal Investigator: Ray Niaura, Ph.D.
Agency: National Cancer Institute
Type: P5O (CA84719); Period: 9/30/04 – 7/31/10
Total costs: $8,626,255
22. Co-Investigator
"Underage Alcohol Use: Sequence and Progression of Early Drinking Milestones"
Principal Investigator: Kristina Jackson
Agency: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Type: R21 (DA021403); Period: 07/10/2007 - 6/30/10
Total direct costs: $247,500; Total indirect costs: $391,667
23. Co-Investigator
"Alcohol Phenotype Development in American Samoa"
Principal Investigator: Robert Swift
Agency: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Type: R21 (AA016597); Period: 8/5/07-4/30/10
Total direct costs: $255,000
24. Co-Mentor
"Identifying Mechanisms of Motivational Interviewing"
Principal Investigator: Timothy Apodaca, Ph.D.
Agency: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Type: K23 (AA15595); Period: 04/01/05-03/31/11
Total costs: $735,131
Curriculum Vitae
Download Christopher Kahler's Curriculum Vitae in PDF Format
