ResearchOur PeopleElizabeth O'Connor

Elizabeth O'Connor, PhD

Elizabeth O’Connor, PhD, is a behavioral health psychologist whose research focuses on systematic evidence reviews and review methodology, with a special interest in behavioral health topics such as mental health screening, mental health treatment, and healthy lifestyle counseling.

Dr. O’Connor leads and supervises systematic reviews for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF); she has conducted systematic reviews for the USPSTF since 2005. She has an interest in quantitative synthesis and conducts meta-analyses and leads the EPC’s Data Core. In addition, she has written two continuing education modules for the Council for Training in Evidence-based Behavioral Practice.

Dr. O’Connor began her tenure at the Center for Health Research as a research analyst in 1988, then earned her master’s degree and PhD in psychology from the University of Houston. Upon completion of her internship and a postdoctoral fellowship in health psychology at the Portland VA Medical Center, she rejoined CHR in 1996.

Selected Current Studies

  • Contract for Systematic Evidence Reviews to Support the U.S Preventive Services Task Force (AHRQ)

Selected Publications

  • O’Connor EA, Henninger ML, Perdue LA, Coppola EL, Thomas RG, Gaynes BN. Anxiety Screening: Evidence Report and Systematic Review for the US Preventive Services Task ForceJAMA. 2023;329(24):2171–2184. doi:10.1001/jama.2023.6369 PMID: 37338868
  • O’Connor EA, Perdue LA, Coppola EL, Henninger ML, Thomas RG, Gaynes BN. Depression and Suicide Risk Screening: Updated Evidence Report and Systematic Review for the US Preventive Services Task ForceJAMA. 2023;329(23):2068–2085. doi:10.1001/jama.2023.7787 PMID: 37338873
  • Lin JS, Hoffmann L, Bean SI, O’Connor EA, Martin AM, Iacocca MO, Bacon OP, Davies MC. Addressing Racism in Preventive Services: Methods Report to Support the US Preventive Services Task Force. JAMA Published online November 08, 2021. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.17579 PMID: 34747987
  • Murad MH, Fiordalisi C, Pillay J, Wilt TJ, O’Connor E, Kahwati L, Hernandez AV, Rutter CM, Chou R, Balk EM, Steele DW, Saldanha IJ, Panagiotou OA, Chang S, Gerrity M. Making Narrative Statements to Describe Treatment Effects. J Gen Intern Med 2021 Jan;36(1):196-199. doi: 10.1007/s11606-020-06330-y. Epub 2020 Oct 27. PMID: 33111244; PMCID: PMC7858734
  • O’Connor EA, Evans CV, Rushkin MC, Redmond N, Lin JS. Behavioral Counseling to Promote a Healthy Diet and Physical Activity for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Adults With Cardiovascular Risk Factors: Updated Evidence Report and Systematic Review for the US Preventive Services Task Force. JAMA 2020 Nov 24;324(20):2076-2094. doi: 10.1001/jama.2020.17108. PMID: 33231669
  • O’Connor E, Thomas R, Senger CA, Perdue L, Robalino S, Patnode C. Interventions to Prevent Illicit and Nonmedical Drug Use in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults: Updated Evidence Report and Systematic Review for the US Preventive Services Task Force. JAMA 2020 May 26;323(20):2067-2079. PMID: 32453373
  • O’Connor E, Senger CA, Henninger ML, Coppola E, Gaynes BN. Interventions to Prevent Perinatal Depression: Evidence Report and Systematic Review for the US Preventive Services Task Force. JAMA 2019 Feb 12;321(6):588-601. PMID: 30747970
  • O’Connor EA, Perdue LA, Senger CA, Rushkin M, Patnode CD, Bean SI, Jonas DE. Screening and Behavioral Counseling Interventions to Reduce Unhealthy Alcohol Use in Adolescents and Adults: Updated Evidence Report and Systematic Review for the US Preventive Services Task Force. JAMA 2018 Nov 13;320(18):1910-1928. doi: 10.1001/jama.2018.12086. PMID: 30422198
  • Morton SC, Murad MH, O’Connor E, Lee CS, Booth M, Vandermeer BW, Snowden JM, D’Anci KE, Fu R, Gartlehner G, Wang Z, Steele DW. Quantitative Synthesis—An Update. Methods Guide for Comparative Effectiveness Reviews. (Prepared by the Scientific Resource Center under Contract No. 290-2012-0004-C). Rockville (MD) Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 2018 Feb. AHRQ Publication No. 18-EHC007- EF PMID: 30125065
  • O’Connor EA, Evans CV, Burda BU, Walsh ES, Eder M, Lozano P. Screening for Obesity and Intervention for Weight Management in Children and Adolescents: Evidence Report and Systematic Review for the US Preventive Services Task Force. JAMA 2017 Jun 20;317(23):2427-2444. PMID: 28632873

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